At a show at Bike Classics years ago I remember seeing componants made by Gipiemme labeled "White Laser". They were unusual because they were anodized white similar to Shimano's Sante componants. I haven't seen any turn up since then. Peter Naiman
>From: FiRUSA@aol.com
>To: sspielman@goeaston.net, Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
>Subject: Re: [Classicrendezvous] More on Gipiemme...
>Date: Mon, 30 Oct 2000 21:13:07 EST
>
>In a message dated 10/30/00 7:49:06 PM Eastern Standard Time,
>sspielman@goeaston.net writes:
>
>
> > For what it is worth, Gipiemme got their start in the business as a
> > contract maker of parts for Campagnolo.....something that Campagnolo
> > vehemently denied...Hovever, back in the 80's, I got a Super Record
> > crankset, new in the box, that I believe never to have been touched by
> > non-Italian hands until mine, that had one chainring bolt labelled
> > "Gipiemme" instead of Campagnolo...you be the judge....
> > Steve Spielman
> >
>
>GPM (the original name, Gipiemme is actually how an Italian pronounces the
>letters GPM as a word like NATO is used here and became a trademarked name
>much later) Generali Meccanista Pappalardo is the words from which the
>initials GPM was taken, actually got their start earlier than as a producer
>for Campagnolo. While they have produced parts for Campagnolo and Columbus
>(dropouts and frame fittings) they were a general machine shop with an
>interest (I believe 30% share) in a forging plant north of Milan that used
>to
>make parts for pre war (First World War) Bianchi's used by the Italian
>Military amongst other things. I have a blueprint of a forged brake lever
>from 24-11-30 given to me as a momento by the manager of the factory that
>was
>giving them to anyone that wanted them, he had piles of them sitting there
>and couldn't throw them out because of the chemicals used to produce such
>prints and the ecology laws now in place in Italy. That forging plant is
>still part owned by the Pappalardo family, who after selling GPM, later
>formed Tecnociclo, who produce dropouts and other frame parts under their
>own
>name, plus other parts for companies like Deda. Gipiemme is now owned by
>Isca
>spa, who are of course producers of Iscaselle saddles. While there are
>still
>some parts available, the production now under the Gipiemme name (saddles,
>rims and wheels) has no resemblence to the groups used by teams like
>Iproxan
>(who became Carrera) and riders of the stature of Giovanni Battaglin when
>he
>won his tours. The hubs are no longer even made in house, being farmed out
>to
>DT (who don't produce the hub components themselves) and Miche. Rims and
>saddles sold under the Gipiemme name are made in the factory in Loria, not
>far away from Selle San Marco, Modolo, Campagnolo and other suppliers of
>bicycle parts.
>
>The groups had Simplex made derailleurs, Modolo and Universal made brakes,
>Everest freewheels, and I believe every other part was made in house. Mario
>Pappalardo (son of the founder of GPM) keeps on his desk at Tecnociclo a
>mounted machined crank from those days, and in keeping with the spirit of
>his
>father will produce anything anyone wants fabricated, especially if it's a
>bicycle component.
>
>Mark Hoskin.
>US Representative, F.i.R srl
>Ph: 1 401 521 6916
>Fax: 1 401 521 6917
>Email: FiRUSA@aol.com
>http://www.FiR-USA.com
>
>FiR - As used by Kelme, individual and team winners of 2000 La Vuelta,
>mutiple Tour de France stage winners and the current World Cyclo Cross
>Champion Richard Groenendaal.
>
>"Ask about the 2001 FiR wheel range, now available, featuring lower priced
>Antara's, new lighter weight and stronger Scalatore', our new range of
>wheels
>specifically built for Cyclo-Cross, wheel bags, and our new range of
>seperate
>hubs, made in Italy by TEC with weights from 355gm/pr!"
>
>_______________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.
Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.com.