Mark, Having been through the same issue trying to replace the only Campag tool missing out of my big tool kit, I share your observations of the prices to me paid. Perhaps more in my case, it wasn't the money but I just couldn't find the Campag one with Ital taps to buy. Given that my use was going to only be thread cleaning after say paintwork and the like, I didn't feel the need to have either the Campag or Park versions which appear to be capable of putting new thread in a blank piece of steel. I ended up buying a cheaper version around the US$150 mark made by Cyclus. I have used it several times and can report that for the light work I am doing, it performs extremely well. As an example, I frame was proving to be a bit stubborn in accepting a NOS Campag BB. I used this tool and with very light action and some good quality cutting oil, it was a simple 5 minute job. The result was the BB could be installed with the minimum of effort. It would seem that it will come down to what you want to use the tool for. New thread, or cleaning up paint or rust. All that said, if anyone has the Campag tool with Ital, there is a vacant space in my tool kit for it. Anthony Kinder Perth, Western Australia
-----Original Message----- From: classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org [mailto:classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org] On Behalf Of Peter Koskinen Sent: Friday, 1 June 2007 10:49 AM To: FujiFish1@aol.com Cc: Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: [CR]high cost of eyetalian bb cutters
Date: Thu, 31 May 2007 21:00:16 EDT From: FujiFish1@aol.com To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org SNIP Subject: [CR]Bottom bracket taps (Italian) ... why so ridiculously high priced?
I've been casually looking for some affordable Italian thread b.b. taps for my LBS for some time now. The "Doc" at the shop has a fairly complete Campy
tool kit, including the handles and dies for English b.b. cutting, but he lacks the Italian inserts. Looking on line tonight, I have seen prices of complete Park units in the range of 500 to 600 dollars ... and individual Ital. dies at about $275 each ... just for that one small little part!!! What is the deal
here? This seemingly exorbitant and gouging pricing is just as aggrevating as the 6-7 hundred dollar modern light units being sold in the catalogs (off topic part, so please drop that aspect of the discussion).
I ask again ... what is the deal with this high cost? Thanks...
Ciao, Mark Agree END SNIP?
Mark, In case you aren't aware, the US Dollar has been flushed down the toilet against the Euro. Today the price is $1.34511 = 1 Euro. You do the math and figure it out. If you need help with your arithmetic don't call your president because he can't add either.
Cheers,
Peter Reid Koskinen
Chapel Hill, NC, 27516
USA