Here's my axiom: The desirable stuff that everyone wanted is no longer to be found as New Old Stock (NOS). The NOS stuff left behind and to be found today was the not so desirable stuff.
Obvious example is 36 hole rims. When everyone switched from 36 hole rims to 32 hole in the early 1980s that left plenty of NOS 36 hole rims left behind on the shelves and used up the supply of 32 hole rims. Same thing with toe clips (tons available after intro of LOOK pedals). Very short or very long handlebar stems.
Anyone?
Chuck Schmidt
South Pasadena, Southern California
United States of America
http://www.velo-retro.com (reprints, t-shirts & timelines)