Chuck wrote:
>>>I remember the thin, shiny Benotto (Mexico) Cello tape being a big
deal here on the West Coast (USA) around 1977/78 and then later, the
thick, padded Bike Ribbon Pro (Italy) being the only thing to use (mid
80s, anyone?) which was I believe the first PVC padded tape with
chamfered edges. Between these two came the Cinelli cork padded tape,
but only in natural cork color and kind of a flop (early 80s, anyone?);
later (mid 90s, anyone?) Cinelli came out with all the colors and then
of course, the only thing to use was Cinelli cork tape.
Anyone else better on the intro dates?
I think the choice of brand and color of tape makes or breaks a bike; individual decision of course, but modern style padded tape on a vintage bike looks silly to my eye.<<<
====== I believe Chuck's time frame is pretty accurate. There was, however, another distinct type of Benotto Cello tape that was thicker, with chamfered edges and a thicker center section, with small pin-holes down the center-line. More "padded" than the traditional Benotto tape, and not really as shiny, but close. I'm looking at a package right now, and it has the exact same white with blue-print folded and stapled card as the thin Benotto. No different name or type, just "Benotto Professional Cello Tape". The plastic bag is just longer to accommodate the larger rolls. Oh, and the plugs are different with the thicker tape. Color-coordinated as usual, but in-bar type, rather than the over-bar plugs typical of the thin tape. I never liked that end-treatment, and always used special in-bar plugs, mostly with the Campy logo. Remember when you could choose from a whole range of "custom" plugs at your LBS?
I think the thicker Benotto may have come late, as a response to the Bike Ribbon Pro, which really became the rage and took over the market, at least temporarily. I agree that choice of type and color bar tape really makes or breaks the look of a bike. By the mid 80's, white Bike Ribbon, following Campy's shift to white hoods and cable housing, was all you saw in pix of bikes in magazines and catalogs. Along with white saddles. Certain first generation C-Record (oops!) bikes wouldn't look quite right without it. And thin Benotto never looks right with aero cable routing, unless the cables are internally routed maybe.
No question that the tape has to be just right.
Wayne Bingham
Lovettsville VA USA