Swallows seemed to have a brief heyday c. late 1950s-early 1960s. Raleigh spec'd them for the last variants of the Lenton Sports (Grand Prix) c. 1961 and for the new range introduced in '62 (Gran Sport, Blue Streak et. al.) and they were stock on some other primo British lightweights of the era. But by the late '60s they seemed very passe when everyone went for the Brooks Pros. Another of the Brooks "family" of saddles, Lycett (which they acquired long before the TI era), was the budget line before Wrights and they, too, had a Swallow. I have one of these and a "real" Brooks Swallow (1957) and the Lycett is every bit as nice. I just don't have a period correct machine to use these on. A good excuse then to go out and buy a 1958 RRA Moderne.
Peter Kohler Washington, DC USA
--------------------------------------------------------------------
mail2web - Check your email from the web at
http://mail2web.com/