"Bingham, Wayne R." wrote:
>
> I'm trying to use this frigid, snowy, icy Eastern weather to spend
> quality time in the shop!
>
> In the last few days, I have finally initiated my Masi Prestige project
> so that I can have it ready for the Cirque. While prepping the frame
> and preparing the various components and materials, I have discovered
> that the top tube brake housing guides appear to be smaller than what I
> am accustomed to. I had intended to use original Campagnolo gray
> housing, but it doesn't fit. The guides appear to be 4.6 mm, where
> other frames I have, and the desired housing, are 5 mm. The Masi frame
> is an Italian-built '76 Prestige, that was originally assembled by a
> shop in the US. The bike was about 95% original when I acquired it, and
> was equipped with yellow housing and Campy 1.8 mm cables. The original
> yellow housing is, indeed, about 4.6 mm. I have not yet done an
> exhaustive analysis of all the housing, both old and new, that I have in
> stock, but will probably be doing that over the next couple days. Since
> the bike will essentially be period-correct in all other regards, I have
> to decide which way to go on this, but would prefer to not use the old,
> original yellow housing. My primary questions are the following, but
> any insight on this issue from the collective CR brain trust would be
> appreciated:
>
> Is this an anomaly?
>
> Were there two different sizes of guides that looked the same (I have a
> Chesini and a De Rosa that appear to have identical-style guides that
> are 5 mm)?
>
> Did Campy have two sizes of the familiar gray housing in the 70's?
>
> Is smaller (4.6) housing available in the original gray?
>
> Thoughts, ideas??
Elephant cable housing:
http://search.bikelist.org/
Chuck Schmidt South Pasadena, Southern California
.