BAGGI "CHAMPION OLYMPIQUE ET DU MONDE" 1935/36

[Jesper]

Old Baggi "CHAMPION OLYMPIQUE ET DU MONDE" ("OLYMPIC CHAMPION AND WORLD CHAMPION"); unknown if that is its model designation. French road bike purchased for the original owner (he is still alive!, turns 100 this year) by his parents in 1936; sold to his friend who ran a bike shop that is closing this new year. Not a cheap purchase, but probably a once in a lifetime find (at least in the USA), and the derailleur is nearly the cost of the complete bike if I had to get a "new" one. Posted on a couple other sites (Tontonvelo, and retrocourse); missing the chain tension spring for the Simplex "Osgear" style derailleur. All parts appear to be original except saddle, seat post, and post binder bolt; possibly the rims.
I am trying to find out more about this marque after the dissolution of the BAGGI-SAMYN colaboration (estimated around 1932). Ottavio Pratesi was one of the well known riders of the Baggi bikes back in the '20s.

Gloria "Tour De France" brakes
Maxi hubs
Fonlupt chainwheel (open to debate, some have said it is an August Sutter)
Derwis cranks (open to debate)
Rigida "Deco C" rims, steel
unknown handle bar
"Special" freewheel (3 spd) (make is unknown, "Special" may be the model)
"Campione" stem (make is unknown, "Campione" may be the model)
Simplex "Selection Professionnel" rear striker fork rear derailleur (Super Champion/Osgear style)
Lyotard model 36 pedals
Vida chain
Brooks "Professional" saddle
Unknown seat post
Dropouts unknown; marked "LL" on fork and frame dropouts
Frame is marked with 890 (or 06 on fork crown and rear dropout; meaning unknown

 

[Jesper]

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More:

 

[Jesper]

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More:

 

[Jesper]

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Most photos are from when I removed from box after my last move; it looks substantially cleaner with most parts installed. Still searching for a tension arm spring for the derailleur; may have to fabricate, but tension specification would be unknown without comparing to a like example to "feel" how much force it would exert. I would like to find a period saddle, although a Brooks model may very well have been the type used back in day. Building a set of wooden tub rims for it with Campy, Pelissier, and/or Gnutti hubs; seems I have one of each front or rear, but not a set; may end up mixed.

 

[Old Ned]

Very interesting, I like the lug work. To me it looks younger than mid-30's. Not heard of the brand before, neither have I come across several of the component brands. Will you be working on it to bring it up to 'concours' standard - or just as a restored nice rideable machine?

 

[OldTel]

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Hi, lovely bike, clean and grease the moving parts, that's all I would do with it. I think they are Oscar Egg lugs from the thirties, a similar bike can be found at https://www.speedbicycles.ch/velo/146/i ... _1937.html Thanks Terry

 

[mdvineng]

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[mdvineng]

Found this https://images.app.goo.gl/WaKk94sV1NmdbD6aA

 

[HPL]

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Very interesting and cool! I have never seen or heard of this marque. Curious if they made bikes post WW2. Good luck with that beauty!

 

[pigman]

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Nice!

The frame alone looks ahead of its time, wouldn't be out of place in an early 60s peloton (with derailleurs of course).

The designer/manufacturer of it had very good foresight, not a lot changed till the alu/carbon era