[CR] mystery of Italian frame components

(Example: Framebuilders:Pino Morroni)

From: "henox" <henox@icycle.net>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 09:27:35 -0700
Subject: [CR] mystery of Italian frame components


I'd like to understand the relationships among a number of Italian frame component manufacturers and distributors.

I started attending Milan bicycle trade shown in the early 1970's and was repeatedly amazed by the variety of braze-ons and dropouts exhibited by Tecnociclo. I never imported any of their products but I'm always drawn to displays of frame components like a cat to cream. Anyway, by around the end of the 1980's Tecnociclo made a stab at a web site but abandoned the effort along with their other manufacturing as it became easier and cheaper to source in Taiwan.

Some of the lugs offered by Tecnociclo, actual manufacturer unknown, could then be obtained from Wagner, a manufacturer and distributor also located near Milan (NOT the same Wagner that manufactured crowns in France).

In the very late 1970's or eary 1980's, Andy Newlands imported some lugs by SR Bertoli and bottom brackets by Mazzuccato which were investment cast. I think both these names belong to the Mazzuccato family which was involved in the Italian cycling industry for many years. I believe this family was also much involved with Oria tubing and was located in northern Italy near Padova or in the Veneto. I remember Oria being displayed at Milan shows but not Mazzuccato.

Can anyone add to my very basic understanding of the linkages and history?

TIA

Hugh Enox
La Honda, California USA