How about a "more of that Frejus, please!" thread?

Don't forget the seat stay mounting option for those without a pump peg.

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/a...3/IMG_3976.jpg

They did make a schraeder head for Silca pumps. I don't know if silca made it or if it was after-market. I did own one. It was plastic with a brass lever to lock it onto the valve. I didn't work very well.

great early pump pics, now for my trivia question:
We see from that ad that Silca is an acronym (S.I.L.C.A.)...anybody know what the initials stand for?
If I was guessing as to plastic type, the earliest synthetic materials were bakelite (not so lite, and usually only came as black or dark red), celluloid (light but very fragile) and as a result of War R&D: Nylon. My guess is that nylon would be the plastic to use for a pump until polystyrene came online.
Edit, the '60s catalogue at their website lists the plastic frame pumps as "celluloide" which may be Italian for that actual plastic, or may just be a generic term for plastic.
There was also this Campy plastic "superlegerre" head: better than the stock Silca plastic head, but not as useful or rugged as the Campy metal unit. I thought that a Primus head would also fit these pumps, but may be mis-remembering.http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=238836 pic from Velobase

Edit my snide comments.

Do I still use Silcas?

Yep. They make nice window dressing on classic road bikes.

I think I have a half dozen with Campy heads around here.

If you want a really nice modern hand pump though, go buy a new Lezyne with the upgraded hose.

They actually work quite well.

Thank you Gunnar!

I'll find someone that fits this frame eventually, but till then it sure is fun to gawk at.

We had a great ride today, as we dodged our way through the snow squalls.

Fwiw. I met a fellow at the swap here that may have another Kvale in my size available. I really am super content with the Kvale that I rode this morning, but this other one has some braze ons for racks and fenders that may be really nice to have. Definitely worth a look see.

Don't edit yourself on my account.

It wasn't worth the energy I put into it.

It seldom is online, to be sure.

I have a few Silca pumps, I like them very much but finding the correct size is really a challenge, no one seems to measure the same way, even when you ask them to measure or when they cannot find the size stamp on the handle of the later ones. I personally like the Campagnolo pump holder with the bent arrow, not the umbrella. I bought 2 NOS older white non frame fit pumps a long while ago for what now would be considered cheap, they have been rising in price.
From my experience the Primus head that looks closer to the Campagnolo plastic head fits the later Silca pumps with the all plastic body, no brass threading, and won't interchange with the earlier, at least mine will not.

The steel Campagnolo pump heads were good for feeling one had a fighting chance against a viscous dog.

Thanks everyone for the Silca info. The reason I asked is because a Silca would probably be the right thing for the Masi. I've got Topeak pumps on two other bikes and, though I haven't had too many reasons to use them, they do work well. My UO8 carries a Zefal, a pump I've been happy with for decades. It also fits parallel to the ST. But the Silcas sure are pretty.

But that works only if you orient your QR lever in the right...oh never mind. Wrong thread.

Yes, standard fitment on a Masi. Just try finding one with the MASI gold foil stamping.

My Silca Impero from the 1980s still works just fine. I am concerned about the potential fragility of the plastic pump body after 26 years though, so I don't use it on my normal rides.

this

But I think my 30+ year old Silca Track Pump is the best. Still my go to pump.

I also have a new Lezyne CNC Floor Drive, and a cheapo Pedros. The Lezyne looks fantastic, and is super smooth, but you have to use solid core valves because it screws onto the stem. If you use non-solid valve cores, it pulls them out!

The pedros is cheap and feels it.

Buy 'em long and cut 'em to fit.

On the subject, I picked this up on eBay several years ago:

http://www.os2.dhs.org/~john/silca-repair/01.jpg

http://www.os2.dhs.org/~john/silca-repair/02.jpg

http://www.os2.dhs.org/~john/silca-repair/03.jpg

Hmmm, I have some too long. Cut the body and rethread with a crank puller? How do you shorten the handle part?

I guess I could make one of those mo-dernere 5" mini pumps too, huh?

With a hacksaw. :innocent:

Seriously, the end piece that holds the leather washer is just crimped on; pull it off, trim to length, and crimp it back on again.

Agreeing with some previosu comments and addig my own thought or two:

Slca pumps work well with the Campy steel heads (the heads with the two little foot thingies). None of the plastic heads are worth a crap - the Campy on ebetter than the other one, but not enough to be worthwhile.

Also, at some point, Silca and Campy had a falling out and Silca changed the threading of their pumps so the Campy heads would no longer fit. I have no idea when this happened except that it could not have been earlier than the late 70's and may have been significantly later. I'm sure someone else here can fill in the details.

The Zefal HP pumps (the number, 2, 3, or 4, refers to length) works better than a Silca, both for inflating tires and for fighting off dogs. (Zefals will fend off a dog and still pump a tire - a Silca will fend off the dog, but may not survive the incident.) But I can see why you would want a Silca on some frames for the aesthetic, as I have Silcas on my De Rosa and on my Eisentraut.

Interesting trivia of Silca and Campy falling out and the new threading. I bought a white Silca in the 86 time frame for my Vitus. The Campy metal head still threaded onto it. Must have been in the late 80s.
I like the pumps, light, worked, and a standard accessory for a fast road bike back then. I bought a red one first years earlier to replace a Zefal HP. Both are still functioning fine. Zefals were workhorse pumps. The Silcas stay with their original C&V bikes. I try to utilize my Zefals on utility bikes. The rest now get mini pumps for their convenience and low cost.

Teach us about Primus pumps as well. I just got a Fuji Special Road Racer and understand that a Primus pump was original equipment installed between the brazed on pump pegs on the downtube. What options do I have for a replacement pump that will fit between the pegs?

http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/r...4/DSC01666.jpg
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/r...4/DSC01665.jpg

If anyone needs a Silca pump cut to fit let know and I'll do it at no cost.

Campy Head Vs. Cheap plastic one:
Reason #1 - Coolness
Reason #2 - The dog chasing you won't like the added weight when it hits his nose.

If you've only used Silca frame pumps in your life and had been happy with them....... I suggest that you never try out a Zefal, especially the HPX model, as you will most likely never go back to the Italian pumps after that....... I guess at least the Silcas does give you more color options.....