I agree that the Crane was the first Dura-Ace rear derailleur. I remember them in the boxes with red "velvet".
Joe Bender-Zanoni Great Notch NJ
Reliving my Nippon centric cycling youth as I piece together an all Japanese equipped Mondia just like I would have built it in 1973.
> I believe that the Crane was the first rear derailleur in the DuraAce
group; It
> just doesn't say "DuraAce" on it. For 1973, the Crane seems like the
correct
> component.
>
> Charlie Young
> Honeybrook, PA
>
> > I recently acquired a Condor which I believe might be a '73 with similar
> > sounding DuraAce cranks, twin band-on downtube shifters and front
> > derailleur, all of which I believe to be original to the bike because of
the
> > special chainrings with letter cutouts to match the bike (Condor seemed
to
> > like doing that -- they did the same on a Campagnolo NR equipped
Barracchi
> > that I have from the same era).
> >
> > I assume there was also a rear derailleur to go with the group that
expired
> > before being replaced by the current Crane. The brakes are Universal
Super
> > 68 (anyone know where I can get lever hoods?), so maybe there were no
> > DuraAce brakes at that time. The seat post is a twin bolt Campy
knock-off
> > that I haven't yet found any ID on. I doubt if it is Shimano, but it
might
> > be.
> >
> > Hugh Thornton
> > Sunny N.W. England
> >
> >
> > >From: Paul Williams <8pbw@qsilver.queensu.ca>
> > >To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> > >Subject: [CR]Chronology of Dura-Ace?
> > >Date: Tue, 23 Jul 2002 11:53:57 -0400
> > >
> > >Hey Folks,
> > >
> > >I know how some of you feel about Shimano but I thought that I would
throw
> > >out this query. What is the chronology of Shimano Dura Ace? As
mentioned
> > >last week, I have this c1976-7 crankset (170 mm) and was curious about
it.
> > >Again as noted, it is the NR(?) look alike but with black alloy
chain-rings
> > >and black detailing in the fluting on the cranks - Shimano Dura Ace
appears
> > >in script in the flutes. I picked this up for C$135 in 1977. Were there
> > >other parts with the set? I don't remember seeing them. Is this one of
the
> > >very early Dura Ace pieces to make it to these shores?
> > >
> > >By the way I am still thinking about parting with these cranks when I
get
> > >my new Campy set. Any interest?
> > >
> > >Paul "curious and procrastinating in a rainy Kingston" Williams
> > >Kingston, Ontario