Date: Wed, 17 Jan 2007 22:10:24 -0800 From: "Mark Bulgier" <Mark@bulgier.net> To: "Chuck Schmidt" <chuckschmidt@earthlink.net>, "CR RENDEZVOUS" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Subject: RE: [CR]Braze-on Campy front derailleur Was: 4hole Campy front shifter
Bryan Clarke wrote:
> > I picked up a four hole Campy Front shifter. [snip] This
> > one is for a braze-on. From Chuck's timeline I guess
> > it was made somewhere between 78 and 82 but also begs the
> > question when did braze-ons attachments first appear?
and Chuck replied:
> Interestingly (or not), the braze-on front derailleur shows up in the
> '82 catalog mounted to the earlier four hole cage version.
> No catalogs between 1978 (#17a Supplement catalog) and 1982
> (Olympic catalog), so the braze-on version was introduced
> sometime between these two dates.
Of course this doesn't answer the OP's question, but some folks (this humble reporter included) made Campy (and other brand) braze-on front derailleurs before Campy did. Art Stump comes to mind but I'm pretty sure there were Europeans doing it around then too. I'll bet Campy saw what the customizers were doing, so they were reacting not innovating. Not that there's anything wrong with that! I know I sure didn't invent the braze-on front derailleur, which dates back to the 20s at least.
Again just so we're clear, I know that's not the question Bryan asked - which Chuck answered quite well.
I remember being disappointed when Campy's version came out because it was so slick that it made my home-made versions, that I thought were so cool, unnecessary and even a little lame in comparison.
Mark Bulgier Seattle WA USA
~ ~ ~ Perhaps this is germane, but I'm not sure. The unusual "1980 Olympic" Colnago frame that I have, sports a shop made braze-on tab, and accompanying rig for fastening the derailleur parts onto it. Colnago built this bike in 1981 as part of a commemorative series of USSR TT bikes from the 1980 Olympics. For that reason, I have been assuming that the special hanger was designed for light weight or aero value. But now I'm wondering if it was made simply because braze-on derailleurs and tabs were not yet available in 1980? That would help further the thread, if true. Here's the set up:
<http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/fujifish1/MarksVintage/Colnagos/Coln81Aer oOlympic/Coln81AerTT51Olym33.jpg.html>
<http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/fujifish1/MarksVintage/Colnagos/Coln81Aer oOlympic/Coln81AerTT51Olym35.jpg.html>
Ciao,
Mark Agree
Southfield MI USA
~ ~ ~