Tom Dalton wrote:
>
> Steven,
>
> On your wife's Paramount, are the skewers stamped "closed" and "open" on the outside and inside of the curve, respectively? I have one curved QR like you describe that is unmarked, and I've seen some that are marked. The markings are a CPSC thing, but I'm starting to wonder if the curve was. It's hard to say what force was behind each change. It does seem that there was an early curved QR that was just the flat QR with an added bend, and it *could* have been made prior to any CPSC mandate. Then there was one just like that, but with "open/closed" markings for safety, with said markings being the only change actually required by CPSC. Finally the completely redesigned lever (with script logo) would have been brought out later as a cosmetic refinement. Both the semi-scarce flat lever and fully-redesigned lever are far more common than the two intermediate types. Of course, my unmarked early curved lever could truly be a flat lever that someone bent, and it could be that all
> the
> "factory" curved levers are marked, with both changes (the curve and the markings) added at the same time, one or both in response to CPSC requirements. But, if your wife's bike has curved QRs with no markings, we can probably rule out this scenario. Perhaps a FOIA search of CPSC records is in order.
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> Also, does your wife's bike have curved QR's ft and Rr? I've seen pars where one is flat and one is curved. And finally, do those QRs have the older, cone-shaped wingnuts?
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> Tom Dalton
> Bethlehem, PA
Curved Campagnolo QR levers date to at least 1967. Also, at least here in California, guys curved their QRs on their own (hip thing to do).
See following entry in Campagnolo Timeline (www.velo-retro.com): 1967 Catalog #15 is printed for the year-end trade shows. Included for the Record group is the Nuovo Record alloy rear derailleur and the Nuovo Record bottom bracket (rifled axle aperture cups). Also the triple chainring crank and cyclocross flanged-chainring crank, the Nuovo Tipo small and large flange hubs (round holes in flanges, no oil hole and stamped steel races), Record pedals (name change), a new Record headset, the Valentino group, pedal spanner (15-16-17mm multiple head), portable repair stand, and ***the obscure large flange track hubs with curved lever quick releases***. Cable housing stop eliminated from Record front derailleur.
Chuck Schmidt South Pasadena, Southern Califonria
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