There is an interesting comment on this Carlton listing that "the TA crankset on this bike is the first model, very uncommon and highly collectible, and worth several hundred dollars". Is something valuable and collectable merely because it is uncommon? The reason these cranks are uncommon is that they were a bad idea then. They are also a bad idea now because one is unlikely to be able to get spare axles. They have a certain historical interest as a failed design, but they did nothing for the development of the bicycle and so are not very significant in historical terms. In practical terms, there is not much one can do with them other than polish them up and look at them.
I am reminded of someone telling me that he had a hard time persuading an owner to part with an old bicycle for something like 30 or 40 dollars because it was a make of which few, if any, others existed, and he thought it ought to be worth lots of money. The reality was that it was rare, but not significant, and that potential buyers were equally rare so it was only worth what an old bike was worth -- which is what was paid in the end. I view this crankset in the same light, as I am sure do many others, but no doubt the lister of this Carlton will be happy.
Hugh Thornton Cheshire, England
In a message dated 19/02/2007 21:20:14 GMT Standard Time, Mark@bulgier.net writes:
That's the TA Criterium crank, their first entry into the manufacture of
cranks. Made from about 1960 I think, until it was replaced by the "Pro
5 vis", 1963 according to Joel Metz's TA timeline
http://www.blackbirdsf.org/
There's nothing tapered about the axle/crank interface, the surfaces are parallel and the arms slide right on/off when the pinchbolt is loosened (that's the thing that looks like a cotter but is not).
Mark Bulgier
Seattle WA USA