Ben Kamen wrote:
>would my life be richer if i had an original remote for 4 year old sony VCR
>- no the Tandy universal model for $14.99 does just as well. sony would
>laugh at my request to remake one for me just as Campy is laughing at
>requests for their hoods. its cute and flattering but they will never take
>it seriously as they are in business to make money. if tullio were alive his
>response would be the same. it should have dawned on some of you that what
>you live for isnt getting cheaper.
No, it's not getting cheaper, but that's not what bothers most people on this list- it's just finding a pair of original hoods in decent condition.
Sony VCRs are built as consumer disposables- high quality, but disposable. When it breaks, you don't bother paying $100 to get it fixed when a brand new VCR costs only a few dollars more.
Campy equipment was not built to be disposable, and what sold Campy parts back in the 70s and 80s was their enduring heritage from the 50s and 60s. I think if Tullio were alive, he would mold the NR/SR brake hoods himself. He understood that it was more than parts manufacturing that made Campy what it is (was?). It was industrial design. It was beauty and engineering combined.
Very few people appreciate a NR rear derailleur for it's mechanical superiority over Dura-Ace or SunTour, but they all appreciate the classic aesthetics of it, whether they realize it or not.
BTW, I'm not trying to flame Ben for what he said- I agree with most of it. Back when Campy hoods were abundant at $30, I said screw it, and bought Modolo anatomic hoods, which I think are better. When I restored my Campy NR bike less than a year ago, I found Campy hoods for $90 and said screw it, and bought a pair of brand new vintage Modolo hoods for $20 (which I have not put on yet, because the 18-year old Modolo hoods that are on the bike right now still have about 10 years of life left in them!)
Herb Langston
Evanston, IL