[CR]FB - Italiano of course !

(Example: Racing)

Date: Thu, 25 Jul 2002 17:05:45 +0100
From: "Bob Reid" <bob.reid1@virgin.net>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
In-Reply-To: <000901c2323d$8d7cb7b0$241b0e44@elman1>
Subject: [CR]FB - Italiano of course !

Late in as usual with this one, and in support of Chuck.....

The 'Fact' bit.....

Fratelli Brivio S.A. of 9, Viale Italia, Brescia (namely Camillo Brivio of the same address, an Italian National) applied to patent the three-piece (steel) hub in 1930, a year later in 1931, the same again only with 'light-alloy' flanges....by 33 both the patents were granted and published.

In 1948, they patented the splined crank axle & splined crank - again Fratelli Brivio and still at the same address....

The splined crank looks not unlike the Gnutti crank if I'm not mistaken, and Brescia is still full of "Gnutti" named companies (specialist casting & foundries etc.) many who go back way before the turn of the last century. What does that say ?

The fiction bit.....

Maybe FB did own a plant in Cognin at one time, I'm sure they were not just turning out bicycle hubs by the hundred, maybe FB did get swallowed up by "Gnutti"....., or expanded and change their name - does anyone have details of the Gnutti crank or an address from a contemporary advert ? My guess is Gnutti are still out there, they just don't do bicycle stuff anymore......In fact just how much of the forging / casting work did Campag do in-house anyway. Outsourcing made as much sense if not more, in the post-war era as it does now. What label would you like on your suit sir ? Armani, Hugo Boss - take your pick.

Interesting though that over 50 years down the line, Shimano and other so called 'leading-edge' cycle companies are telling us splined drives (octalink/Isis) are the thing to have, accompanied with "hollowtech"type cranks (Courtesey of one Antoine Duprat (Yes he was French and in France)

Bob Reid
Stonehaven
Scotland