For Questions About Originality, Ask Italy! (Post #137)

Gigi's photo of an original aluminum master cylinder cover
(copertura) in place.  Luigi Ventura.

Original copertura (right) and its
 reproduction.  Paolo Galafassi.

As mentioned in the last post, Gigi Ventura made me aware that his friend Paolo Galafassi (https://www.classicvintagecar.it/) has not only rare original examples of the heat shield over the first muffler set, but also the "copertura" covering the master cylinder.  I have to admit I was at first skeptical that such a feature was an original factory item because although I have seen the underside of quite a few 1900s, none of them was equipped with one.  Furthermore, no such cover for the master cylinder appears in the official Alfa parts catalog for 1900s.  The first photo Gigi sent did nothing to convince me.  It showed a somewhat battered-looking alloy box, open at the top and back, covering the area around the master cylinder. Then I noticed in the same image the unusual finned oil pan sump, oil filter housing, and the front suspension lowering spacers.  Hmmmm--maybe the copertura was a modification too?

The factory-installed screw holes in the Alfatross' chassis
for attaching the master cylinder copertura.

One of The Alfatross' original rondellas (right)
and Paolo's reproduction (left).

I wrote back to to Gigi to express my skepticism. In reply, he sent photos of an original surviving copertura alongside a reproduction made by Paolo's shop.  But the thing that really convinced me that coperturas were original factory equipment was the four attachment points Gigi told me to look for on The Alfatross' chassis.  Sure enough, there they were, and not just holes drilled for sheet metal fasteners, but carefully made threaded inserts for 5mm x .80 machine screws!

I immediately put in an order with Paolo for reproductions of both the exhaust heat shield and the copertura.  On the same page of Paolo's Web site  https://www.classicvintagecar.it/catalogo/ricambi/alfa-romeo/1900/freni-1900/, I also saw something else I had been looking for: rondellas--the steel rings that securely lock the lug nuts to the splined wire wheel hubs. 

Paolo's reproduction copertura fit The Alfatross perfectly.
It will be painted black to match the chassis color.

Note the 3 fasteners along the longitudinal
frame member and 1 on the transverse
member.

Having had some bad experiences during The Alfatross' restoration when ordering reproduction parts, I am delighted to report that all three orders arrived quickly, were carefully packed, and just as advertised--and the prices were very reasonable.  Grazie Gigi and Paolo! It doesn't get any better than that . . . .