These things were more expensive that a Brooks B-17?
Unbelievable! Did they come with a 50 gallon barrel of
hemorrhoid cream? What else could account for those prices?
Fred Rednor - Arlington, Virginia (USA)
> I found a lot of info in the Ron Kitching 1960 catalog on
> Unicanitor
> (referred to in the catalog as both Unica and Unica-Nitor)
> saddle.
> The saddle came out in 1959 and the '60 catalog mentions an
> "improved
> patented pillar" (steel, exceptionally narrow rail spacing
> with cam
> adjustment in top of post for seat angle).
>
> Also listed in the '60 catalog is a Unica-Nitor saddle "for
> use with
> the Campagnolo 1044 seat pillar, Ideale Special-Competition
> saddle
> clip, Vittoria seat pillar or any standard clip." Available
> plain or
> perforated in Black, Brown, Orange or Green, in Road or
> Track."
> Track version is described as "narrow section, more rounded."
>
> Quote from catalog, "NITOR nylon-plastic patented top is
> moulded to
> the saddle frame..." Which make me wonder, is the word
> "Nitor"
> Italian for, or the Italian trade name of, nylon-plastic???
>
> Here's prices from the catalog for comparison:
> BROOKS -- B.17 "mod. Campagnolo" -- 42/6 Each
> UNICA -- "Road" model, fits Campagnolo post -- 55/6 Each
> UNICA -- "Track" model, as above, narrow section -- 55/6 Each
> UNICA -- "Road" model, fits Unica pillar only -- 74/- Each
> UNICA -- "Track" model, as above, narrow section -- 74/- Each
>
> None of these Unica saddles had any leather cover or padding,
> "No
> breaking-in required - the top provides a firm comfortable
> seat
> without that springy feeling that absorbs pedalling (sic)
> power." It
> has already been mentioned that most everyone found the
> saddle, for
> all but track use, to be slippery, hot and too hard, and it
> wasn't
> until the Cinelli versions in 1969/70 that the Unicanitor was
> offered
> with a leather cover and also a leather cover over foam
> padding.
>
> Chuck Schmidt
> South Pasadena, CA USA
> http://www.velo-retro.com (reprints, t-shirts & timelines)
>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
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