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I have a web page with pictures I took of both kinds of Bianchi headsets, with some observations about interchangeability and such. I know even the top of the line Folgorissimo in the 50s had a V-groove, as did the ’64-’65 Gran Sport (a cheaper model), so the Campy might only be on early-60s Specialissimas and Competitiones. Anyone who knows for sure which headset is in their bulged-headlugs Bianchi should post back so we can get some more data points. I don’t know which models/years got the Campy headset and which got the inferior (in my opinion) V-groove headset.

The Campy headset in mine is a regular cup-and-cone where the balls touch only one place per race.

In a V-groove headset, the balls touch 4 places, 2 places each on the upper and lower grooves. Other Bianchi’s I have opened up had headset races with a V-groove top and bottom (similar to some old Stronglight headsets) rather than the more familiar cup-and-cone shape. Unfortunately you have to knock the races out of the frame/fork to see the logo. The headset in it is definitely Campagnolo, based on the logo and the ground/polished races. My Specialissima is probably ’61 to ’63 and I lean toward the earlier date due to some of the components on it. Steven Maasland once told me the whole list of headset brands that went into Bianchis but I forget now. The headsets were made by various manufacturers, including Magistroni. Bianchi used it as far back in the 1930s I believe, maybe farther back than that. The headset is just listed as “Bianchi” but I think it is probably Campagnolo.īianchi’s cool bulged-headlugs and internal headset are not unique there were other Italian brands with almost (or in some cases exactly) the same thing. Notes: Original less saddle, original green finish, gold lug lining, fender mounts Spokes: “A” stainless, double butted 4x crossĮxtras: REG water bottle holder, Campagnolo wheel logo pump mount, Campagnolo steel dust caps, Campagnolo wheel logo cable clips, Campagnolo cable guide, Bianchi seatpost bolt, Weinmann brake pads, green cable housing, white handlebar wrap Size: 57cm top tube c-c, 56cm seat tube c-cįront Derailleur: Campagnolo Record, w/cable stopįreewheel: Regina Gran Sport Corse, 14-26t Frame: Bianchi Specialissima, Columbus Tubi Rinforzati, rounded chrome head lugs, chrome rear stay ends, Campagnolo dropoutsįork: Bianchi Specialissima, spearpoint crown tips, chrome crown and ends

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