Dave Anderson wrote:
>
> Kudos to ko_te_jeje@mac.com on the close-up photos.
> I have a question that has been nagging me for years, and hope someone on
> the list can give me a definitive answer.
> Is FB the precursor name to GNUTTI?
>
> Here's a couple of points that I am aware of that makes me think this is so:
> 1) They were licensed to make QR hubs while the Campy QR patent was still in
> effect.
> 2) They have both been named as Campy parts subcontracters.
> 3) Even though their logos are not 100% identical, they both have a Logo of
> an Eagle grasping a bicycle wheel.
> 4) FB labeled hubs dissappeared just about the time GNUTTI hubs showed-up.
> *) And of course, they were both made in the land of fine linguine, (forgive
> me Mario G.).
>
> This would have all happened eons before my time, so I am hoping someone with
> more longevity could answer. I have plenty of re-printed material on FB and
> GNUTTI, but they don't indicate with any certainty that these really were one
> and the same company.
I don't think I'm actually old enough to answer this question either, but since no one else has stepped up...
F.B. (Fratelli Brivio) of Italy goes back to the 1930s at least and probably further back than that. They were a supplier to Tullio Campagnolo for his Cambio Corsa derailleur (that included dedicated hubs) in the 1930s and also sold their hubs (they also made cranks) branded for other bike manufacturers such as Bianchi, Legnano, Simplex (Italy), Maino, etc. and were still selling their hubs in the late 1960s.
Gnutti was selling cranks and hubs in the late 40s. I don't know if they were around pre WWII, but that is only because I don't have many Italian catalogs from that period to know. They were still selling hubs in late 1960s too. Yes, they licensed the QR from Campagnolo (says so stamped right on the lever) but I imagine other companies did so too and just didn't stamp it on the lever.
Yes, both of their logos have an eagle on top but no, they are not both holding onto a wheel, just the F.B. eagle is doing that.
Yes, they are both Italian companies.
No, F.B. hubs didn't disappear just about the time Gnutti hubs showed up.
If you do a web search with google.com I think you'll find that Gnutti is still doing business though.
Chuck Schmidt
SoPas, SoCal