[Classicrendezvous] Re: B15 vs. B17

(Example: Component Manufacturers:Ideale)

Date: Sat, 28 Oct 2000 23:41:24 -0800
From: "Chuck Schmidt" <chuckschmidt@earthlink.net>
To: Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
References: <3.0.5.32.20001028221450.014a8ea0@j.imap.itd.umich.edu>
Subject: [Classicrendezvous] Re: B15 vs. B17

Joseph Bender-Zanoni wrote:
>
> I have to say that the post below from a few days ago has a number of
> assertions that are questionable.
>
> Quickly measuring the 10 or so Brooks B-15s, B-17s, Pros and Swallows that
> I have, the average leather thickness at the flaps is typically 5mm plus or
> minus .5mm. Of the three B-15s in the sample, none are thinner than the
> average and in fact, the thickest leather on a Brooks saddle I own is a
> B-15 at about 5.8mm. (snip)

Maybe I can clear this up with a quote from the pertinent Brooks catalogs (1950s).

Brooks describes the B.17 as having "selected solid butt leather" and the B.15 as having "solid butt leather." Notice the omission of the word "selected."

A single hide will have an area that is best for cutting out the best saddle blanks, and other areas that are not quite as good for the rest of the saddle blanks. The best would be used for the 17s and the lesser ones would be used for the 15s.

It is not a matter of the thickness of the leather, but the quality of the leather selected. The B.15 was a more affordable version of the B.17

Chuck "set your clocks back" Schmidt South Pasadena, California http://www.velo-retro.com (updated list of new reprints)