Hillary, and fellow bike lovers:
I have been aware of the parts that you speak of since the late 70's. However, a few years back I came across a genuine Campagnolo, steel, seat post, with a well broken in and cared for Brooks saddle mounted on it . It (the seat post) is very much like the Record aluminum posts which we are all very familiar with. It has the same type of micro-adjusting mechanism as the Record post, but all of the parts are made from steel and chrome plated. The major difference is that the upper portion of the post (which the rail supports and top clamps attach to), is much narrower than the Record aluminum post, and if my memory serves me correctly the slot down the middle where the bolts go through is open to the rear. I have never seen any literature on this post, but I have seen others exactly like it. I have no idea what years it was available, or what it's part number or group designation is, but it is definitely a chrome-plated, steel, micro-adjusting, Campy seat post, made specifically for the earlier, narrow-railed, leather saddles.
The saddle is very interesting too. It has, from front to back, narrow to wide, stepped spacing between the chrome rails. It is by far the softest leather saddle I have ever owned, and I have actually ridden on it on one of my Bianchi's. The shop owner who had actually originally sold both of my '59 Bianchi "Competizione"('s) told me that the saddle and post were not correct for the bikes, but was of the same approximate vintage (give or take a few years). He also noticed that the post was .2mm too small for the frame. I then told him that I had taken the original Brooks "Swallow" off temporarily so that I could try the other saddle and post out.
At the present time, this saddle and post combo is in storage (along with 75% of my bike collection), so I can't take a photo to send to the group. However, the very next time I am able to do so, I will retrieve it and take a photo to send along for all to see. It shouldn't be all that uncommon though. But I have only been involved with cycling since the mid-60's, so what do I know.
If anyone else out there has one of these posts please speak up. I can't believe that this post is such a rare item. Although I have only seen 2 or 3 of them myself.
That's all that I have learned about these narrow-railed saddles and posts, and I would like to know more.
Happy Cycling All! - "Bicycle Mark" Perkins
On Tue, 09 Jan 2001 23:10:50 +0000 "Hilary Stone"
<Hilary.Stone@Tesco.net> writes:
> All the seatposts I have seen (in the flesh and in contemporary
> catalogues)
> for the narrow rail saddles from Brooks, Unica et al were of the
> early
> Record type aluminium non fluted two bolt fixing. I have whilst I am
> typing
> this a set of the saddle rail supports and top clamps to convert a
> normal
> Record pin to one which takes the narrow rail saddles together with
> one of
> the 'Campagnolo' Brooks Competition B17 standard saddles.
> Hilary Stone
>
>
>
> Mark A. Perkins wrote:
>
> > I don't think this will work on the Campy post that I have with a
> narrow
> > railed Brooks saddle, it's all steel, chrome plated, and the space
> > between the two opposing pins (left and right) the top is much
> narrower
> > than more recent posts.
> >
>
> > <Hilary.Stone@Tesco.net> writes:
> >> These were used on a special Campagnolo pillar - I think it was
> >> simply the
> >> rail supports and top clamps that were the only parts which were
> >> different
> >> though. So it doesn't mater what diameter Campagnolo Brooks pin
> you
> >> find,
> >> the parts can be transferred to another Record pin.
> >> Regards
> >> Hilary Stone