Any Idea? Ancora Milano frame from the 20s/30s

[caemis]

Hi!

I recently purchased a pretty old frame made by Ancora (Milano) and while some infos about the company as well as some pictures of bikes are out in the web, most of the stuff has restricted access via www.registrostoricocicli.com or isn't online any longer.

Maybe you have some ideas, infos, etc. regarding the frame itself, company history or at best a large library of digitized Italian catalogues on your harddrive.

The frame will be here tomorrow for some more detailed pics but here you go so far:

 

[Mickeyspinn]

That looks very interesting! Internal cable routing on top tube?

 

[caemis]

Mmhh. Not sure about that. Some of the old bikes had some sort of lever at this position.

 

[Mickeyspinn]

Mmhh. Not sure about that. Some of the old bikes had some sort of lever at this position.

Look forward to more pics....great patina on this

 

[caemis]

Me too!

Here a some pics of the few Ancora bikes in the internet I could find so far:

1925
(Modell B : Lusso da Viaggio (Randonneur))



1927
(Modell B as well)


1937
(Without a Modell Number but apparently the same as above)


(All pics from private collectors on registrostoricocicli.com)

And a catalogue pic from 1934
on classic rendevouz:

Modell L (Corsa et Strada)



Due to the frame number and decals of mine I suspect the same year as the "L" Modell

Cheers

 

[Woz]

Lovely that. Did it come with forks too?

 

[caemis]

Lovely that. Did it come with forks too?

No, unfortuntely not. It would be indeed easier to determine the kind of frame with forks but will see. Wheel size might help as well.

 

[caemis]

Good morning,
today I received the 1934 catalogue from Jawr (paramanubrio.it) - it still is a but inconclusive but according to the pictures my frame (still not here ) appeara to be a "Modello B" as those above - I wonder if they actually build some of the oder modells.

However, this is the catalogue page:



Build with visible lugs and an internal brake system. Most noticeably is the pump behind the seattube, whereas other modells of this year, who might came in question too, have different details:


Modello L (Corsa/Strada) with Bowden brakes and the pumppegs inside the main triangle ...



Modello Sport with a Torpedo gearing and a lever for the rear brake on top of the seattube.

Well, more details when the frame has finally arrived - but for now it appears as a chilled cruiser to me...

 

[caemis]

Well, the Ancora arrived few days ago and does make a good first impression.

What I dont know is what I should make of the odd sized bb shell and headset.

BB has 68.5/35mm threaded
HS has (between the cups) 26.8mm

Any idea what I shoul looking for to test-fit? I guess gettin' the HS cups out would be a good start to determine the real size.

However, a few pics attached:



Cheers

 

[caemis]

Since I had to maintain my wife's bike anyway, I used the opportunity to see if I can get rid of the headset cups.

Et voilà:




I didn't expect to find that the cups have a diameter of 30.2mm, which of course makes it a lot easier to find a headset and fork...

A little mock up of the frame fitted with 700c (rear with 40mm tire) wheelset and a touring fork:



Cheers