It may be that some pieces came out before 1973, perhaps the Crane RD as well as the CP brakes, so maybe 1973 was the year it became a complete gruppo.
Regards,
Jerry Moos
Houston, TX
> Jerry,
>
> According to the official Shimano web-site history of Dura-Ace, the line
> was introduced in 1973. See:
>
<http://dura-ace.shimano.com/publish/content/duraace/en/home/history/origina
l_dura-ace.html>
>
> 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>
4
> >>
> >>
> >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