on 9/23/04 8:24 AM, Jerome & Elizabeth Moos at jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net
wrote:
> No, here is the seat binder:
>
> http://www.classicrendezvous.com/
>
> The classic Legnano seat clamp and some Frejus's when Legnano owned Frejus
> were in front of the seat tube like this. That then meant that you didn't
> have any seatbolt to mount the rear CP brake hanger, so they used a hanger
> that was bolted into a threaded hole in the back of the seat tube. The
> picture of the brake hanger isn't as clear:
>
> http://www.classicrendezvous.com/
>
> I don't know why they didn't just braze on a rear brake hangar like LeJeune
> and other manufacturers who didn't even need to do so. I guess the brazeon
> would have been easier to break, but at least in wouldn't get lost like the
> Legnano hangers do.
>
> I'm sure there are list members who could supply examples for you to copy. In
> fact, I'd be willing to loan you the ones off my 1968 Legnano Tipo Roma. It
> is currently an ugly repaint and needs to be restored, so that might motivate
> me to tear it down and send off the frame to one of the fine painters on the
> list. I'm not currently in need of the bolts, but at the same sort of price
> as the Cinelli bolt, I'd buy a set just in case I run across a Legnano frame
> missing them. I'll bet some other list members would buy a set as well.
> Maybe you could solicit advance orders for a batch to see if the interest will
> justify your effort.
>
> Regards,
>
> Jerry Moos
> Houston, TX
Hi Nick and Jerry,
Thanks for sending the pictures. I am familiar with those components. At least one of those seat clamps went for crazy money on eBay a while back... Universal made a few special variations of their brake hangers. I've already been asked to make the Cinelli one.
The prospects for reproducing these components are not good unless we want to get into making large quantities. I suspect that this is economically unrealistic. The problem is that these components are not machined. They are made by production methods that don't lend themselves to one off reproduction.
The seat clamps of that style, that I have seen, are cast and they have a decorative pattern. I could machine clamps that are mechanically functional but they wouldn't look the same. The best plan for making a run of reproductions would be investment casting. If we did that they would actually wind up looking too good. In any case Kirk Pacenti could give us an idea of tooling costs. Kirk?
The brake hangers were originally made in a die. There are two major components in each hanger that each require a press tool. There are a couple of smaller components that are turned on a lathe. Again, I could make something that is functional but it would be tough to get it to look the same.
I wish I could give you better news.
Regards, Jamie