Bellini by Vanni Losa

[bikenut2010]

Vanni Losa is a celebrated Italian frame builder who made frames for Cinelli, PEP Magni, Guarini and other franchises around Milan.
This is a Bellini, a small outlet north of Milan, in Columbus Air with a Shimano 600 'tricolour' groupset and wheels.
Now here's the downside; despite the mate in Italy letting me have a couple of real time warp condition bikes perfectly packed, this arrived as tho' tossed into a box by the Hulk, the seat post was not secured, nor the rear wheel, and the seat tube marked badly and a few small dents besides, so this will need more restoration than expected! I have a Campag record ( mostly ) group set for a rebuild should I decide against the Shimano, tho' it does look crisp in dark grey against the white.
I may have to sacrifice the worn chrome of the chain stay unless anyone knows of a less expensive re chroma.

Any recommendations on an economic frame restoration would be greatly appreciated.

You probably would have seen some of my finished bikes so I thought I'd show this as a project from it's ratty beginnings!
Photoset is here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/opdga609u652efh/YvtdjKOfMm

 

[oonaff]

Mmm looks interesting you certainly do churn them out bikenut.!
I have recently been in contact with a firm 'silver bronz ' Alton ' hants
about rechroming the 6" or so rear end without touching the rest of the paint . the existing
chrome is de laminating water has obviously tracked along under the chrome skin
to my surprise they said YES £60. im going to get it done and see how the margin of the new chrome could
be tackled best with paint. its a 1981 koga. im not sure if its stove enamell its oyster orange but over a white base ? i may post the forks off to mercian for a colour match as i read they are doing stove enamell touch ins .

 

[Nob]

That's not columbus Air tubing

 

[Midlife]

oonaff

I'm looking for some touch up for my Bob Jackson (Mid 70's frame).......... do you mean that if I send the forks off to Mercian they can supply the correct touch up paint?

Cheers

Shaun

 

[bikenut2010]

That's not columbus Air tubing

Sorry I meant the forks are Columbus air :facepalm:

 

[bikenut2010]

oonaff

I'm looking for some touch up for my Bob Jackson (Mid 70's frame).......... do you mean that if I send the forks off to Mercian they can supply the correct touch up paint?

Cheers

Shaun

Any carbody shop can give you an exact match, supplied in an aerosol...just spray some into a jar, give the thinners a while to evaporate and then brush on...t-cut the surrounding paint to remove road film first and expose the correct shade for matching.

 

[bikenut2010]

Mmm looks interesting you certainly do churn them out bikenut.!
I have recently been in contact with a firm 'silver bronz ' Alton ' hants
about rechroming the 6" or so rear end without touching the rest of the paint . the existing
chrome is de laminating water has obviously tracked along under the chrome skin
to my surprise they said YES £60. im going to get it done and see how the margin of the new chrome could
be tackled best with paint. its a 1981 koga. im not sure if its stove enamell its oyster orange but over a white base ? i may post the forks off to mercian for a colour match as i read they are doing stove enamell touch ins .

Well I wouldn't say churn! Nearing retirement, musician by trade, what me? obsessive?? Just nice to work with my hands instead of my head! :mrgreen:

Very interested in the chrome job, the LOSA log is stamped in the previously chrome chainstay so would be nice to get it back to original!

 

[oonaff]

hi midlife, yes it appears so its on mercians site , they say limited shelf life once they are mixed and use a hair dryer once applied as they are stove enamelled. sending a sample off was my idea, when i get the frame re chromed ,its too big an area for nail bar , cheapest heat guns in wilkinsons . i find wilkinsons cheaper than halfords for the old car car products too.

 

[bikenut2010]

Would Bob Jackson have the original colour of file ( unless it was re-painted subsequently) ?

 

[bikenut2010]

So, damage inspected, I sanded back to reveal the dents, may just about be able to fill and shape.
Nice Losa engravings on dropouts and chain stays, chrome is proper fooked on drive side tho