If Brooks do resume production, I'd anticipate they'll further consolidate their product line. I'd think some of the sprung saddles with nonstandard seatpost attachment might be dropped. But I would think the Swallow, the small rivet Pro, the Ti rail B-17, the antique brown Team Pro, and perhaps the choice of wide or narrow B-17 might also be threatened.
Regards,
Jerry Moos
Sheldon Brown wrote:
> Jerry Moos wrote:
>
> >I have a similar question, which Sheldon can certainly answer, but others
> >may also know. Was the Swallow made up until the shutdown? Sheldon had
> >them on his site, but I didn't find them offered by any other vendors.
> >Were Sheldon's NOS? Also, is the Swallow technically a variation of the
> B-17? (I think I remember hearing references to a "B-17 Swallow")
>
> In the 1960s, there were both B15 and B17 Swallows, and lots of other
> models that no longer exist. Some time in the late'60s, I believe,
> there was a fire at Brooks, which put them out of action for quite a
> while.
>
> When they got back up on their feet, it was with a much reduced
> product line. They gave up on their extensive line of touring bags,
> leaving that market to Carradice and others. The Swallow was one of
> the models that was discontinued at that time, and I think the whole
> B15 line went out then as well.
>
> The prices of used Swallows got so high (I've heard of Japanese
> collectors paying as much as $400 for them) that they were prevailed
> upon to re-introduce the model sometime in the mid '90s. I think
> Mike Kone may have had something to do with this. The recent
> Swallows have no reference to B17/B15.
>
> Sheldon "About To Leave For Work On One Of My Swallows" Brown
> Newtonville, Massachusetts
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