BIANCHI Corsa Vittoria Margherita gearing system, original paint, 56.5cm (1938/39) – SOLD

Bianchi is the world’s oldest bicycle-making company still in existence, founded in 1885 by Eduardo Bianchi in Milan, Italy. No doubt, Bianchi is the pioneer of bicycle development since the beginning:

• In 1885 Bianchi  pioneered the use of equal-sized wheels with pneumatic rubber tires;
• Edoardo Bianchi designed first lady bike in 1895 and it was made for Queen Margaret;
• The Bianchi reputation began when the company sponsored Giovanni Tommasello, the winner of the Grand Prix de Paris in 1899, which evolves into Tour de France;
• Bianchi presented the first bicycle ever featuring a cardan joint transmission in 1901;
• They invented the front brake system in 1913;
• In 1914 Bianchi was a famous and reputed manufacturer: in just one year, production settled on extraordinary figures: 45.000 bicycles, 1.500 motorbikes and 1000 cars;
• In 1915, Bianchi produced a bike for the Army, equipped with wide-section tyres, folding frame and suspensions on both wheels.

In 1930s, with 50 years of history and experience, Bianchi was a huge company, the absolute leader of the Italian market, producing over 70.000 bicycles a year. Bianchi’s successes in the sport went along with those achieved at industrial level when Bianchi relased their top model Saetta and the ‘celeste’ bicycles kept winning all around the world.

In 1920s changing gears meant stopping and removing the rear wheel and flipping it around to use a different size cog. But in early 1930s, the new Vittoria Margheritta gear system was released,  which used a sprung tension arm, mounted on the chainstay and placed the striking fork above the chainstay, so requiring back-pedalling to change gear. Alfredo Binda had used the Vittoria Margherita system when he won the World championship in Rome in the fall of 1932 and many pros mounted the system on their bikes for the 1933 season. The Tour forbade the use of derailleurs until 1937. But unlike the Tour, the Giro d’Italia allowed their use before.

Beautiful Bianchi Corsa racing bike, (No.804122), dates back to 1938/39, thanks to special Bianchi register. Extraordinary details of the bottom bracket&hubs oil braze-on, internal seat tube chain oiler and seat post clamp with serial number makes you understand that Edoardo Bianchi was a medical tool engineer, before he started with bike manufacturing. This beauty is shining in original paint with original setup: Vittoria Margherita gearing system, Bianchi cranks, hubs, stem, pedals, and Universal 361666 brakes. If you wish to go 1920s style, just flipp the rear wheel and go fixed gear.

With this milestone you can get an incredible experience how cycling heroes rode back in the golden era of cycling history or just to get a lot of attention at any historic cycling event. Very special catch for any collector.

Frame & Fork: Bianchi Corsa, steel (No.804122)

Size:

– seat tube (c-t): 56.5 cm

– top tube (c-c): 57.5 cm

– headset tube: 12.3 cm

Gears: Vittoria Margherita Tipo Giro di Franci gearing system

Crankset: Bianchi (170mm)

Bottom bracket : Bianchi

Brake Levers: Universal 361666

Brakes: Universal

Hubs: Bianchi

Freewheel: 16/17/18 or 18 fixed

Headset: Bianchi integrated

Stem: Bianchi original

Handlebar: original

Seat: Brooks

Pedals: Bianchi, original

Handlebar Tape: cotton

Condition: Used, but good condition. Original paint. Original setup.

Era: late 1930s

Price: SOLD (April 2024)