Barra Barralumin frameset

Yet another rare Barra Barralumin has appeared on Ebay. And here is a webpage with a Barra mixte frame


from Ebay auction, the seller's(RhClassics) description-
 item number-360549599869

" 54,5 cm middle of BB to center of seat tube. 
650B wheels.
Nicolas Barra was one of the true geniuses in the history of lightweight bicycles.
His first welded aluminium bike took part in the 1936 Grand Prix du duralumin. He then produced a number of these fantastic sculptural frames under the name Barralumin. They were a total revolution compared to the bolted or glued alloy frames used at the time. A few frames were used in the Tour de France, most famously by Vietto.
The welding required great skill, and a technique that Barra invented himself.
This is a very nice example of a genuine Barra (some frames were licenced out under the Garin trademark but although nice, not of equivalent quality).
Some scratches and marks, four small holes drilled when the bike was modernized; this is an overall nice example of one of the most fantanstic frames ever built.
It is very rare in having the original Barra transfers, a sign that the bike has never been polished up.
Start price is IMO an absolute bargain for an important piece of cycling history, I personally believe that Barra's are totally under-valued."

second

third

forth

fifth

Barra cantilever brakes, that used spokes as the straddle link.

Renzetti modications Drillium

With a rebirth, or one artisan calls a revival, in the process of lightening bicycle components, I recently unearthed this catalog from the 1970s showing some of the results in the Renzetti modifications on Campagnolo parts.  Some of the weight differences(before and after the process) seem to be negligible, it appears to be more aesthetics. I guess in the end, all the combined weight savings does add up, and make for a pretty effect. The costs(in 1970s dollars) of saving 4ozs(1/4 of a pound) would have been $96, that's $470 in today's dollars! That is the weight of a cheeseburger, one expensive cheeseburger. See our Hill Cycle bicycle with lots of drillium and milling. Also check out Drillium Revival, they do awesome work.

UPDATE-(thanks Jamie Swan!)
Robin Renzetti was the machinist doing the modification back in the 1970s. 

Halladay adjustable handlebars

 These adjustable handlebars are similar to Kelly handlebars. Produced in Marion, Indiana for Marion Cycle Works in the mid to late 1890s.

Caminade Caminargent city bike

I love the look and idea of the Carinargent(Introduced around 1934-35 in France). It has octagonal tubing that are held together by lugs that clamp with bolts. So the frame can be completely disassembled. It is aluminum and with some time and delicate love, it can be polished to a beautiful shine. I have never seen the octagonal tube rack before. If it was my size I would have not posted a link to the auction until it was over. . . and my bike!

This particular bike is on ebay and here is the seller's(RhClassics) description-
(ebay item-360548761084)

"54 cm middle of BB to center of seat tube.
 650B wheels. 3449/ 4-50, so April of 1950. 
Very nice example of a fully original cyclotouring Caminade, with all its original parts, never restored or polished up. 
There has been a tendency over the past to turn all Caminade into race bikes, or to build up a bike from a frame in a non-authentic fashion. 
This bike is the real thing, as it left the Caminade factory. It has all the nice cyclotouring options and parts : fantastic octagonal tubing rear carrier, original internal cables and wires, original red paint detailing of the lugs, original Caminade frame bolts, Lefol Le Paon mudguards and correct matching Luxor lights, rare alloy Roto-Phare dynamo, Stronglight cranks with red paint matching the frame, Lefol chain guard, fine alloy rims and hubs, Caminargent stem, alloy bars, Lam brakes and levers, fine long Frank Nelson saddle, octagonal pump peg. The back derailleur is missing, it would have been a standard Super-Champion to match the lever that is still there on the top tube. Not a problem to source this one missing part. Condition of the frame is good, it will polish up beautifully"

Schwinn Webb brakes

Very unique brake display to show the newly introduced Schwinn Webb brakes(1937-1938). I have not done much research other than the Schwinn catalog, but Webb was British components manufacturer. They were best known for their pedals.

 Equipped on the prewar Paramount Tourist.

I personally own the original ink drawing of the Paramount Sports-Tourist Ladies' bicycle. See it here on this blog posting.

Grease fitting on bottom bracket spindle

Coventry(uk) Ultralite cottered bottom bracket axle has grease fittings on either end of the spindle and a hole at both bearing races so grease grease can be injected into the bottom bracket without disassembling. One could also use lightweight oil, as well.

Suntour(japan), in conjunction with Wilderness Trail Brothers(WTB), later used a similar design with their XC-Pro bottom brackets with Grease Guard. The Suntour unit has a hole in the crank arm bolts, the spindle is hollow, and their is a hole on either side of the bearing races. Injecting fresh grease ultimately purges out the old grease.