Models? Colors? Removable heads? Sizes? Frame mounting? Reliability? High pressure? That sort of stuff.

To figure out if you've got the right model, color, size, etc. of Silca pump, you just shove the pump into the front spokes of an unattached rider who is hanging with you. If they question their dreams and accept their father's business, you've got the right one.

So they work just like in the movies!

Until they meet a French foreign exchange student, anyway.

Ok, seriously: I have one I got around 1970, been gently treated, and it still will inflate a tubular. They frame mount - the Campagnolo pump head has little feet that fit to BB lug in front of the seat tube. Newer ones had a handle shape that latches into the seat lug, and older ones used an "umbrella bracket" that clamped to the seat tube. The length was chosen to fit the seat tube.

They're very lightweight and teh outer shafts can be fragile. The air seal is a greased leather disk, which needs from time to time refreshed grease. Like I said, they will inflate a tubular. Rather amazing for a design that's more than 40 years old!

a trivia item: the threading for the body is the same as for a standard crank puller: 22Mx1...so if you need to cut one down and/or cut new threads you can cobble a die out of a crank extractor.

red orange green blue yellow
big small
Plastic heads steel heads plastic are no good...
Leather piston washer with assorted grease or oil high pressure and reliable BUT the cool factor is more important. lol
Plastic bodies metal bodies

I collect all the Silca pumps I can find! The square tops are older than the fitted and hard to find these days. They require the umbrella hood to mount and length is more forgiving because of it. The fitted ones need to be sized to fit a frame tube. There were at least 3 heads available: the Silca plastic, the Campagnolo plastic and the Campagnolo steel. The Campagnolo steel is the only one worth messing with.

They work surprisingly well. If you pump as hard as you can you can get 90-100 pounds. There's a knack to putting them on the presta valve as its easy to blow the handle out of the pump. Press the valve first to make sure its working. Likewise, grip the head with your hand around the tire to keep from breaking the valve as you pump.

Inside there's a leather cupped washer. You can pull the handle, flare the leather and coat with white grease to form a better air seal in the tube.

I think there the best pumps ever made. For years in college, its all we had.

As far as I know there were only the 2 types... both plastic.

Lots of colors back in the day, they're obsolete today, though NOS seem to be on ebay all the time for outrageous prices. Sometimes you can find a deal.

My old lbs on the east coast still sells them, like 8-$10 each. I have a few but as mentioned, newer pumps work mucho better.

I've always used silicone grease on the washer,
assuming it might be better for the leather.

They work, but as stated, it's tough to get
really high pressures with them. Very light
and there is the coolness factor, but that
whole NOS on ebay at high prices escapes me.

Blackburn used to make a nice frame pump.
Those are pretty functional.

IMHO if you habve a pumppeg your better off with a Zefal HPX 2/3/4/ pump

Also, they originally had brass threads where the head screwed on. The newer versions have plastic threads. I was told to stay away from the ones with plastic threads, because they can break under high pressure.

The Silca with the Campy metal head works well.

Durable as well.

With all of the bicycle that I find, I am bound to come up with a vintage pump, or two, or three. This is a small assortment of what I have tucked away. Funny thing is, I have never used any of them. I have my Blackburn and it goes on almost every ride with me and whatever bicycle gets picked for the day...

Good point Randy.

On some of my vintage bicycles, I love to top off the "look" with a vintage Silca pump.

But what do I carry on a serious ride?

CO2 in a seat or handlebar bag.

I'm sure Blackburn pumps work well, as a couple of of guys in our weekend group carry these as well.

Unfortunately we had to use them last Saturday.

Hopefully we won't need them on our ride this morning.

Just two things to add. You gotta have the Campy head. And, you gotta have the Campy head.

+1 to Rootboy, and it has to be the metal campy head!

I don't think there's a way to attach a Schraeder valve, just thinking about "removable heads." It's a consideration for me, since I'm thinking about 650B and would like to keep using my Presta pumps.

The older white colored models develop a very nice patina of time, almost ivory like.



It's also fun and easy to add a custom color:



Scott

A show your Silca thread adjustment?

All my bikes have a Silca pump (ah, a couple a Zefal).

Dang, I'd buy a few if they have the size I need!

On their website they say they have been around since 1917. I have read the pumps made prior to WW2 were made of bakelite and then plastic after the war. I have an early one and it is definately not like "normal" plastic. I also have one made soon after teh war and it is plastic. They had an all brass head up until the 50s/60s when they started using that fancy chrome stuff.

Ad from 1939:




Prewar citybike pump





Postwar but prior to 1948 pump. They would obviously put specific bike brands on teh pumps.






Brass head from the 50s/60s. Not the focus of the photo but you can see it in the upper left corner.

Nice bike.

Always loved them. Went out of my way to find one this time around. Anyone have a Campy head FS cheap?
I HATE the CO2 cartridges, they seem like such a waste, and the best case scenario if you are out is that you're stuck with a crappy little micro pump. The Silca increases your "Age of Steel" cred, too.