Gooday all,
I haven't posted for a while but I've been reading the digests regularly. I'd like to get information -- anecdotal is fine -- about when 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - and 10 speed rear clusters came in to general use. I suppose that 7 - 10 are outside the perview of this list so if anyone wants to post to me privately about those combinations I would appreciate your thoughtful contribution.
>From my own knowledge, I saw my first 10-speed (5-speed cluster) about 1964. I bought a 15-speed (Geminiani) in 1966 which was the first triple chainwheel bike I had ever seen up to that time. I think I saw my first 6-speed about 1972 which was basically an extended Regina 5-speed with the smallest two cogs joined together.
Erik Siverson
Gilroy, Cal.