The U78 would mean something to someone at Colnago, Scott, but nothing to do with a date code (in my opinion of course).
Chuck Schmidt South Pasadena, CA USA
On Sep 10, 2007, at 7:06 PM, Scott Demel wrote:
> OK - you've got me...1980 (though I was secretly hoping for the
> prior decade)
>
> Any thoughts on the meaning of the "U78" on the dropout, or is it
> just randomness?
>
>
> 1979 -- Fork crown for recessed brake bolt with shallow triangles
> cut into back - YES
> 1979 -- Brake bridge for recessed brake bolt - SEE BELOW
> ----
> 1980 -- Short COLNAGO drop-outs - HOW SHORT IS SHORT? and COLNAGO
> fork ends - YES
> 1980 -- Fluted seat stay caps engraved COLNAGO and straight seat
> stays, no longer biconical - YES
> 1980 -- Brake bridge with cast square boss for recessed brake bolt
> - BOSS IS SQUARE WITH EASED CORNERS, THOUGH I WOULDN'T SAY THE BOLT
> IS RECESSED, OR SUNKEN, OR COUNTERSUNKEN, THOUGH I MAY NOT BE UP ON
> MY TERMINOLOGY OF "RECESSED" IN THIS APPLICATION
> ----
> 1981 -- Chain stay bridge is small spool shape, no longer tube -
> NO, MINE IS A STRAIGHT TUBE WITH SMALL LUGS TO THE STAYS
> ----
> 1982 -- Chain stays stamped COLNAGO on sides - NO, ONLY THE DRIVE
> SIDE DROPOUT IS STAMPED, NOT THE STAY
> 1982 -- Cable routing on underside of bottom bracket - NO
>
>
> http://www.demel.net/
>
> scott demel
> brooklyn, ny