Hello List,
Here is a link to a few pictures of a late 50s/early 60s Olmo track bike that I have:
The link will take you to a Kodak Gallery. Log-in info isn't required. Just click on the first pic, slideshow, or "see the slideshow again".
The bike is rumored to have belonged to Jack Disney at one point. The gentlemen I purchased the bike from bought it at a shop here in Austin around 1973. The bike shop owner (Mrs. German) supposedly bought the bike directly from Jack Disney in L.A. a year or two before. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find any references (or photos) to Jack Disney owning or racing an Olmo.
The bike has definitely seen better days and I am in the process of deciding how to proceed with the project. The paint and chrome are both shot, but there are surprisingly no dents or dings and only superficial rust. The tubing looks very clean inside.
As purchased it was built into a 70s era single speed with Campy Strada hubs laced to Super Champion tubulars. The rear hub had an Atom single speed freewheel on it. Both the fork and seatstay bridge have been drilled for brakes and the bike had Universal Super 68s mounted when purchased. The gentleman from whom I purchased the bike stated that the fork and bridge had been drilled when he bought the bike.
The Olmo has a Magistroni headset, seattube collar, and adjustable cup on the BB. The remainder of the BB is a later Campagnolo spindle and fixed cup. As you can probably see in the pictures, the Magistroni adjustable cup looks like it has been there forever and is probably original to the bike. The crankset that was on the bike is an early pista 165 length with the raised pedal bosses. Tragically someone in the bike's past (a friend of the previous owner) had decided that it would be prudent to drill out the drive side crank arms/spider to reduce the exorbitant amount of weight that is often found there. This isn't always a bad thing unless one decides to do so without the help of a jig or drill guide as this person did. There are pictures in the link that highlight this incredible of level of workmanship (careful...it hurts to look at it).
The paint is black with chromed drop-outs, head lugs, fork crown, and seat lug. The head tube is painted white and there are 4 small white panels painted on the seat tube with small, faded world champion decals on each end of each panel.
There are multiple faded, and chipped decals including Olmo decals on the fork and downtube, Reynolds 531 decals on the fork blades. There are also the remnants of a 1966 L.A. bicycle license sticker on the back of the seattube. The back of the seattube toward the top is stamped with D96.
Sorry for the lengthy description, but I am trying to determine three things:
1. The approximate age of the frame and fork, 2. What components would most likely have been spec'd on the bike given it's age, and 3. Is anyone aware of a time that Jack Disney used an Olmo for any competitions?
(The prior ownership/use by Jack Disney could have a major impact on how the project is approached).
Thanks for reading the post and for any suggestions that you might have.
Best Regards,
Mike 'looking for direction" Spess Austin, Texas
---------------------------------
Never miss an email again!
Yahoo! Toolbar alerts you the instant new Mail arrives. Check it out.