All very interesting.
I invite all of you to come to my apartment and take a look at the two big plastic bags filled (still!) with the gorgeous replica Raleigh '50s style grey roadster grips I had custom made in the UK. Primo quality, perfect replicas. Etc. Etc. EVERYONE wanted them.. "do it!" "do it!" they cry. I made 100 pairs, invested about $1200. And what happened.... I sold maybe 30 pairs at $19.95 a pair. Do the math. So is the market bigger for Campy hoods? Perhaps. But I personally wouldn't invest my own money in the so-called "market" for classic bits ever again. Everyone wants what they can't get or won't pay enough for. If it's readily available, no one wants it.
Anyone who takes on this project.. do yourself a favour: insist on up front orders in advance to cover your out of pocket expenses. The moulds for my grips cost me about $600 and I couldn't find anyone in the US to do small orders like this. And the rate of exchange now with the Pounds makes using a UK maker prohibitively expensive.
Put me down for two pairs of hoods.... or would you like to trade for some Raleigh grips?
Peter Kohler Washington DC USA
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