Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2005 18:46:47 -0500 From: HM & SS Sachs <sachs@erols.com> To: Classic Rendezvous <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Subject: [CR] Was Pedals. Really is: Was? (Brand) Pedals.
According to the lovely Speedplay virtual pedal museum <http://www.speedplay.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.history>, my pre-War Paramount oughtta get Torrington #4 pedals. Fat chance of finding those.
Somewhere, sometime, I did snag some lovely quill pedals that look like everything else of the vintage. On the barrel it says "Was" in script (although I'm really guessing about the s) surrounded by a double oval.
Anyone know anything about this brand? Shafts are stamped "D" and "S" so I don't think it is US or English (duh!). Threads are > 14 mm, so probably not French for French bikes. Threading is short for steel cranks, not aluminum. I would think Lyotard, but the assembly looks a lot better, and the lovely rounded-top hex caps are much nicer than I've ever seen on that distinguished (extinguished?) Marque.
Now, don't any of you smart fellows tell me to search for "was" in the archives, eh? :-)
thanks! harvey sachs mcLean va PS: I am open to offers of age-appropriate toe clips, long (or even medium), for a '38 Paramount. Does not have to be NOS - I don't have patience to search for hen's teeth. ------------------------------
Harvey:
They are Way Assauto pedals from Italia. Mike Kone just sold that NOS Campy-branded pair on eBay recently. Multo cool....
The ones that Mike sold are identical (except for logo and dustcaps) to an NOS pair of Way Assauto "Zenith Corsa 18 Extra Lusso" pedals that I have. (How's that for a fancy name, BTW?). Their logo is a fancy script "Wa" in an oval.
Circa 1950s-1960s, IIRC. Box says: Fabbriche Riunite Way-Assauto, Asti, Italia. Catene - Ruote Libere - Mozzi - Guerniture - Pedali - Serie Sterzo - Serie Movimento - Chiavelli - Bulloni. (Did they really make all of those components? That's a lot of varied stuff...).
Ciao,
Gregorio Parker
Ann Arbor, Michigan