Hey Don ,
I completely agree , except ,
I'm thinking 700 units per year might be a pretty good guess for those "Schwinn Approved" "GT 300 Le Tour" ( Shimano Crane ) rear derailleurs , as used on the Deluxe Touring Paramount P15-9 .
However , that's just on the 15-speed Touring Paramount .
That same rear derailleur was also used on the Schwinn Paramount Tandems , and on the Schwinn Sports Tourer , and on the Schwinn Superior when it was re-introduced in 1976 , and on the Schwinn Approved Voyager II .
And the short-cage "Schwinn Approved" "Le Tour" rear derailleur was of course used on the Schwinn Approved Le Tour bicycle . ( but were these the "Crane" quality level , or the "Titlist" quality level ?? )
So , there were a few more units of those rear derailleurs sold . But still , you're right .
Raoul Delmare
Marysville Kansas
> You have to hand it to Shimano. Imagine its 1973 and you want your
> derailleur on the best bike that Schwinn makes, and they say, "sure,
> just print some that say 'LeTour'" and we'll do it !!! Meanwhile, all
> the other Campy parts are sitting on the same bike labeled "Campy".
> Your total yearly production run of "LeTour" parts would be maybe 700
> parts annually. I bet there was a great deal of hand wringing in
> japan over this - and they went the last mile ...
>
> - Don Gillies (P-15 owner)
> San Diego, CA