On May 14, 2006, at 11:04 AM, Don Wilson wrote:
> I'd like an approximate year when plastic seats
> started being placed on good road bikes and what
> manufacturer lead the way.
Old post from archives at http://search.bikelist.org/
====================================================================== Date: Wed, 15 Jan 2003 17:11:35 -0700 From: Chuck Schmidt <chuckschmidt(AT)earthlink.net> Subject: Re: [CR]Unicanitor
The saddle was introduced around 1959. The company name is Unica. The saddle top is named Nitor as in "Nitor nylon-plastic patented top".
Unica made a steel seat post to fit the seat (the seat had unique slotted rectangular steel rails. Unica also offered a second version with round wire rails to fit the Campagnolo Record seat post or plain seat post clip.
Offered plain or perforated in Black, Brown, Orange or Green. Saddle name is written "UNICA-NITOR" with hyphen.
Above info from 1960 Ron Kitching catalog.
AND:
The Unicanitor was supposed to flex just like a leather suspension saddle and even had a nose tension adjustment screw. This was why it originally was made with no additional rubber padding or leather cover.
Chuck Schmidt South Pasadena, Southern California (sunny 70s today) http://www.velo-retro.com (Ron Kitching catalog repros) ======================================================================
Chuck Schmidt South Pasadena, CA (same weather as above... who woulda guessed?)
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