Jerry,
According to the official Shimano web-site history of Dura-Ace, the line
was introduced in 1973. See:
http://dura-ace.shimano.com/
This does not include the clunky centerpull brakes labeled "Dura-Ace" which came out earlier. So you are correct and my memory was off by one year. But the Flandria bike still can't be from 1970. It is interesting to note that the Shimano Dura-Ace history mentions 1974 as the year Shimano became the official sponsor of the Flandria race team.
David White Burlington, VT
jerrymoos wrote:
>I bought some DA sidepulls I think in 1973, and there were DA centerpulls
>earlier than that, so I think DA may have been around in 1972, and 1970
>isn't out of the question. One reason the bid isn't very high may be the
>frame tubing is unknown, but with those components, one would think the
>frame should be of quality tubing.
>
>Regards,
>
>Jerry Moos
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "David G. White" <whiteknight@adelphia.net>
>Cc: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
>Sent: Wednesday, April 21, 2004 9:39 PM
>Subject: Re: [CR]NOS 1970 Flandria on Ebay
>
>
>
>
>>Hi Lou,
>>
>>Your instincts are right on. This bike can't be from 1970. As I recall
>>Shimano didn't start selling these components until 1974. It does look
>>nice though and the current price is very attractive! I happen to think
>>these first generation Dura-Ace components are superb. One detail: the
>>hubs don't look like Dura-Ace to me. The cut-out on Dura-Ace hubs from
>>that vintage were not quite so oval.
>>
>>David White
>>Burlington, VT
>>
>>
>>LouDeeter@aol.com wrote:
>>
>>
>>http://ebay.com/<blah>
>>
>>
>276
>
>
>>>1&rd=1
>>>
>>>Hard to believe this one hasn't attracted more interest, particularly
>>>
>>>
>given
>
>
>>>it is NOS, 30 years old and has original DuraAce parts. I didn't even
>>>
>>>
>know
>
>
>>>DuraAce was made in 1970!! I would have pegged this bike for mid-70s
>>>
>>>
>given the
>
>
>>>parts. Is the seller a listmember? Lou Deeter, Orlando FL