Italian Head Badge thread

[Jesper]

Forgione Telai formerly Blacksmith Cycles; Gesualdo (est. 1995: Blacksmith Cycles; circa 1998: Forgione Telai) (a fairly modern builder of custom steel frames starting as Blacksmith Cycles made in very limited quantities, and then changing to Forgione Telai as a full blown business. Built by Vincenzo Forgione; ex off-road competitor.)

1995-98:

Not sure if this was used as an intermediate badge between changing of the marque's name:

Unsure if this was used as an actual badge and not just a company logo. Essentially the same design as the final badge image:

Circa 1998 and later:

Photo credits: steelframebicycle.com (Forgione Telai's website; odd that he did not use the company name)

 

[Jesper]

Cicli Tuder, presently Tuder Bike; Todi, Perugia (est. 1960) (ran by owner until 1979, owner & son 1980-2006 still in original storefront, by son to the present in different storefront in Todi)

Circa 60s:

Circa 70s:

 

[Fritz Katzenjammer]

Bottecchia, still celebrating our 1966 win in 1982... because we’ve done nothing worth mentioning since?

 

[Jesper]

Bottecchia, still celebrating our 1966 win in 1982... because we’ve done nothing worth mentioning since?

Thanks for contributing!
My '86/'87 "Botty" Giro (semi-stripped of parts in the "Island" of Misfit frames) has the upgraded decals to include all Italian Championship wins with the latest in '85, and the latest World Championship wins in '85 & '86. I guess you have to hold onto bragging rights even if decades old and bide your time until the next success. Surprised that your head badge is not a plate; my bike still utilized one.

Bottecchia; Cavarzere (est. 1924? or 1926) (Developed in the Teodoro Carnielli factory before Ottavio's death in 1927; presumably sold as the Bottecchia marque by 1926)

1986/87 "Giro"

 

[Jesper]

Cicli Zironi/M. Zironi; Modena (est. ?)

 

[Jesper]

Cicli Renald; Modena (est. ?)

 

[Jesper]

Cicli Welker, Parma? (est. ?) (Believe that this marque was either bought by Garlatti, or was one of their side brands from the start)

 

[Jesper]

Tommasini; Grossetto (est. 1957) (a fable perpetuated by Tommasini's own website claiming he was a "master" framebuilder since 1948 (born mid 1933) after only just having been, in the same year, started to be mentored by Guiseppe Pelà (who was a master framebuilder already, and in his mid forties by '48). I highly doubt that Irio had much if any framebuilding experience during WW2 while also racing in the amateur category and being just 15 yrs old in '48. I would certainly agree that by '57 (after 9 years of apprenticeship) he had become a highly skilled builder and thus was able to establish his own brand. It is stories like this that keep convoluting the truth in the face of common sense. There is one truth that I can attest to; they are great frames to ride!)

Early-mid 80s:

 

[Jesper]

Here is some information provided by the present owner of Tuder Bike:

"My name is Paolo Ruspolini owner of "TuderBiKe" ("Tuder" is the ancient Latin name given by the Romans to our city), we deal with the sale, service and rental of bicycles right here in Todi, where my father Mario started this business in the center of the city around 1960s. According to the information I have, the brand "Cicli Tuder" was born in our town even earlier (just after the Second World War) from the idea of a diocesan institute "Istituto Crispolti," the purpose was to create a school that had prepared young people for their future crafts (blacksmiths, carpenters, mechanics, etc.), thus began the production of bicycle frames, initially in a propaedeutic manner and later mass production for sale. I understand that later the brand was acquired by a small company in northern Italy that continued with the same production until the late 1970s; I am sorry I could not have been more helpful, but for the moment this is only the information I have."

So it would appear that Cicli Tuder was not part of Tuder Bike. I have no idea as to what year the head badge would be at this point except that the foil decal head badge was referenced as 70s era. The actual plate badge may be older than the 60s from what Mr. Ruspolini has related.

I probably have about another dozen badges left to dig up; after that I will provide photos I have gathered from various sources. Many of which I have no reference as to their origin (some from online sellers of badges, frames, and/or complete bikes). If possible I will try to get the source in order to provide proper credit.

 

[Jesper]

Torpado; Padova (est. 1895)( TORresini PADOva)

Torpado variants: years unknown

1st one is similar to those shown in post 28, but it is not identical either.

This next variant is substantially different with latitude and longitude lines, as well as having the American continents instead of Europe and Africa. Is it possible that this badge was particularly designed for bikes heading to tje western hemisphere market. This badge is substantially thicker than the standard head badge and it is very difficult to bend.