Tom asks: <In the following auction, the seller lists it as first generation Record front derailleur and distinguishes the derailleur as having chrome plated bronze parts. I am curious: how is this particular derailleur different from others from 1963-1968, most of which have the cable stop on them? And how is this particular one marked in such a way that the seller knows it is from 1963?>
I am not an authority on early Record front derailleurs, but the one on my 1963 Carlton has chrome plated pivot arms. I don't know how long they made these arms. Later models that I have seen changed to aluminum (or aluminium, for our friends across the pond)
Cheers,
Mark Ritz
Arcata, CA