Legnano???
 

Hi all. I could use a bit of help with this old road bike that came my way the other day. The only identifying element is component related. The steering stem has Legnano etched into it.

I have included detailed shots of the bike with hopes that someone with more Legnano experience can help identify this old steed. In addition...

The rear drops are Campagnolo. The rear brake quick release bracket looks to be made specifically for the bike considering the unusual frame mount. The front forks sport a very unusual crown and the drops are pressed steel. I cannot find a serial number on the bicycle but there does appear to be two numbers stamped into the drive side of the seat tube lug. The bottom bracket housing is 70mm wide and the seat tube inner diameter is 26.4mm or perhaps a touch larger.

That's about where I am at with this old bike. Any help you can offer would be much appreciated. If this old Italian bike is indeed a Legnano I intend to restore and ride it. Thanks for any offered help in advance.

I'm no expert but I think that it looks legit. Legnano is the only brand that I have seen with that style of seat clamp/bolt.

+1 that the seat clamp/bolt would likely point to Legnano. Serial #'s on the seat tube may also be an indicator. The color/pantina is pretty cool. From what I've seen, a rear brake release for center pulls is usually attached to a seat bolt. Since the position of seat/clamp is located in an odd spot, it look's like another variation - interesting.

I don't get the slot/hole on the top of the fork. Maybe someone can shed some light. Great bike...

There was one other bicycle manufacturer that utilized the under toptube seatpost clamp bolt if my memory serves me right, but I cannot recall the name off the top of my head. I would be pretty confident this would be a Legnano though. Looks like a very worthy restoration candidate. Those centerpull cable hangers made to attach to the back of the seattube are pretty hard to come by. I have a Legnano that was switched to sidepulls at some point before I got it, so that hanger is long gone. I've searched around for a replacement and come up dry.

Post photos when it's done!

It is a Legnano. The fork might be a replacement since it doesn't have campy fork ends like the drop-outs and I've never seen this crown on a Legnano.Nick, I think the brand you are looking for is Gloria ?

Looks like a Legnano to me. That brake hanger was made by Universal specifically for Legnano, I know because it took me forever to find mine. It was common for Legnano to use Campy drops in the rear and stamped in the front - all the Gran Premio's are set up this way, however the fork crown looks different to me too. The headset looks like an original Way Assuato, which would jive with it being a Legnano because most came with them. To my knowledge only the Roma had Campy front and rear. I've seen Frejus with the same seat binder, but not ones as old as this one looks. There should be a serial number stamped into the seat tube, that might give you an indication of the year.

Anyways it's a fun score Randy, I can't enlarge the pictures on my computer right now, but when I can maybe I'll see something else.

Looks like your seat clamp binder bolt has been cobbled together. A BF member has (had?) NOS ones for sale on ebay. The proper one is scalloped, so you can't just put a standard binder in there.

Probably a 27.0 seat post

My Frejus from '72 has the same binder. (Edited out for better info later)

In case you're interested, these are what they look like... The seller has 5 available.

http://www.otis.g2solutions.biz/ebay...bolt%20002.JPG


http://cgi.ebay.com/Legnano-Roma-Fre...lenotsupported

It's Legnano Gran Premio, which was their lower end model.

They came with Campy drop-outs in the rear only, the fork had plain stamped drops.

I'm the seller on ebay with the bolts. Those will not work on this model. The Gran Premio takes a two-piece wedge type bolt that is very hard to find. If you PM me I can send you a photo of what they look like.

It is possible to make something that will work.

Nice find. Definitely try and get it back on the road.
-W

Bolt pictures...
 

Thanks for the offer of a picture of the bolt I need for the Legnano seat post binder. I would like very much to see what it looks like and perhaps have one made to suit. Thanks and I look forward to your reply. By the way, I almost went for the binder bolt(s) that you have for sale.

Precautionary: Is there a bend in the top tube there at the head-lug?

Gotta love Legnano -- even the lower-end ones look great and ride nicely.

Hey Randy,
I may have the bolt you are looking for. I'll post a pic so perhaps Otis can confirm if it is the right one. It came with a Roma I just got but it didn't fit.

It would be great if I could find the seat post binder bolt assembly and I will gladly accept any help I can get, tuz. That said, one of my most memorable rides was on an entry level Legnano that I found at the dump and spent less than one cent on. The bike on its test ride proved to be so ride rewarding that I ended up covering about fifty gently paced miles on a foggy, turning to sunny Sunday. Have a peek at this entry level sleeper of a bicycle.

Unless something unusual crops up, I fully intend to completely restore this nice old Italian bicycle. I have been looking for a nice Italian road bike ever since I let my Atala Professional go and now I have two. My recently acquired Tomassini Prestige (with luck) arrives on the bus tomorrow.

Here's what you are after. Hopefully you can find one where the head is not all chewed up like this one:

http://www.otis.g2solutions.biz/ebay...granpremio.jpg

Please download the image as I only host these for a short time.

I concur, it certainly appears to be a Legnano Gran Premio, specifically a 1960s model. The clincher would be the hole pattern for the five headbadge rivets.

Yup that's the one I have! I can send it to you, PM me.

What luck...
 

Thanks All for the input. It has been a help.

I don't think that the Legnano's top tube is bent. I do think that I am a lousy photographer and that my camera tends to distort or skew images. I will be testing geometric integrity soon. I might add that I have repaired bent top and down tubes before(well, one time only on my 63 OX10, but the repair worked perfectly).

Lady luck has been on my side when it comes to the Legnano. A week or so after acquiring the bicycle, a mystery Italian steed showed up in the back yard. Honestly, this sort of thing happens to me from time to time. Anyway...

The Mystery steed appeared to have been used little and sported some perfect components for my Legnano including: a very nice high flange Campy Gran Sport hub set laced to near perfect Super Champion Competition tubular rims; a near mint set of Universal Extra brake calipers and levers(hoods shot); a beautiful set of pantographed Belleri handlebars; and a suspended leather saddle nearly identical to those encountered on similar vintage Italian road bikes.

A short while later, I scored a couple of Torpados locally and both are in great shape. The yellow one has what appears to be the proper front forks for the Legnano but I am not sure. Perhaps the forks on the Legnano "as found" are correct - perhaps not. But the original forks resemble no other Legnano fork set that I am aware of. So, I just might scrap the yellow Torpado to get the fork set that I need but I hate doing so since the Torpado is such a pretty bike and in good shape. It happens to be fitted with the only set of 700c steel wheels that I have ever seen and they are in great shape. I ramble...

Adding even more frosting to the good luck cake, a Forum Member was good enough to send me the proper seat post clamp bolt which proved to be perfect for my bike. Thanks again and I owe you one.

After turning The Old Shed upside down for an acceptable cottered crank set, I noticed the one I wanted hanging by the entrance. I had walked passed it many times, unobserved, in my search. The crank installation is the present hold-up since I must file the cotter pins a wee bit before pressing them into place.

In addition to the crank set, The Old Shed also produced a Campagnolo Gran Sport transmission and a TTT seat post, the last two items needed to complete the rough build in preparation to test the bike out.

I am torn between building the bike up with the Old School components as opposed to installing a Campagnolo NR grouppo(both would seem appropriate for a fifties something vintage), keeping the Universal brakes of course. For the test ride, the Old School stuff will have to do.

So, every now and again, good old Lady Luck plays her part. The Legnano is about the most interesting bike I have run across since my Dump found 1971 Carlton Professional found its way into my humble collection(the Carlton has been passed since it was too big for me). If all proves sound with the Legnano, I intend to keep the bike. And, in reference to another string, I will be keeping the Tomassini that my son found for me also since it is such a great ride and already has some sentimental value attached to it. Mama Mia X 2!