Duane Kennard commented:
Also, looking through '70s catalogs, I see REGINA ORO chain selling for more than double the price of chain like SEDIS... Was the ORO really that special, or just a prettier face?
The early 70's Oro's, GS Corsa's were indeed different and more expensive than the Extra chains. The outer brass plated plates were fabricated with a radius, (I think stamped to form). They were said to stretch less, which I doubt, and shift better (they may have torn up the chainrings less), they did look better!
Later Regina introduced the Extra Oro, which was a regular Regina Extra with the brass plating on the outer links, no formed radius to the outer plates.
To confuse things, in the later 70's, Regina Extra Oro Record, arrived with "drilled" side plates had a slightly smaller profile WITH the formed radius.
Sedis continued to make basically the same chain during this period with the exception of the Sedi-Color model with side plates in silver or tri-color.
When Sedis chains sold for $2.95, the GS Corsa Oro's sold for $5.50, soon to inflate to $8.50.
When I became aware of these matters in 1973, the Regina Oro chain & freewheels had been out for some time, what I have not been able to confirm was when the Regina Oro freewheel and/or Chain were introduced.
Anyone know?
John Jorgensen
Palos Verdes Ca