Not too long ago, I stumbled across a somewhat vague eBay auction listing for a group of brand new and unused alloy cog wheels. And while the descriptive text may have been minimalist, and the associated photograph was a tad out of focus, I could still clearly identify a few rather distinct characteristics which led me to conclude that these might well be cogs apropos a Zeus 2000 freewheel build - and I am always interested in procuring more virgin examples of these when the price is right. Indeed, the individual cogs being offered for sale were of a polyvalent design, they were said to be crafted from lightweight aluminum alloy, AND of most significance, the larger cogs used a slip fit interference interface having eight locating notches. Based upon these simple observations, I decided to tender a modest bid which turned out to be just enough to prevail in that auction.
Roughly one week later, I received in the mail a carefully packaged bounty of shiny new cog wheels. But whereas my original observations regarding their peculiar characteristics were proven to be accurate, my conclusion that they might be suitable for use with a Zeus 2000 freewheel body was not. At this point in time, I am left scratching my head trying to figure out just what freewheel application they would work with as it is obviously one with which I am not familiar. Having no use for this fine lot of cogs, and being unable to accurately identify their proper application such that I might offer them for sale once again on eBay in some meaningful fashion, I have instead decided to have a bit of fun with them, while at the same time, perhaps learning of their true origins courtesy of the vast wealth of knowledge represented herein by the august and esteemed membership of the CR List.
So, here is the deal....
I have temporarily posted to WoolJersey a series of four pictures detailing various aspects of these cogs including comparisons with their very similar Zeus counterparts. You are both invited and encouraged to peruse same using the following convenient link:
http://www.wooljersey.com/
All told, the group of "Mystery Cogs" consists of no less than twenty-two individual examples - one 14 tooth threaded, four 15 tooth threaded, four sixteen tooth threaded, three 17 tooth threaded, two 18 tooth threaded, two 18 tooth slip-fit, one nineteen tooth slip-fit, two 20 tooth slip-fit, one 22 tooth slip-fit, and two 23 tooth slip-fit. Review the photographs. Consider the relevant details. And then, offer either your "best guess" or your "I am absolutely positive that I know what these darn things are" conclusion as to just what manufacturer make and type of freewheel these cogs are intended for use in conjunction with. The first person to "correctly" identify their proper application wins not only the highly coveted title of CR List "COG-KNOW-scenti" in good standing and all of its attendant accolades but also the entire group of brand new and unused aluminum alloy polyvalent cogs themselves to do with as they please.
OFFICIAL RULES: No purchase necessary - nor is it even possible. Void where prohibited, licensed, taxed, or otherwise restricted by time and/or interest. Entries should be submitted directly to my public email address of rsb000@hotmail.com (....notice please that "mail" is not spelled with an "E") and NOT to the CR List itself lest you risk the wrath of Dale for wasting valuable bandwidth. Limited to only one entry per person unless you have been certifiably diagnosed with schizophrenia, in which case you may only enter once for each of your known multiple personalities. In the event that there is no "decisive" proof forthcoming as to the actual origins of the cog wheels in question, the "official winner" will be determined by a preponderance of similar guesses submitted for consideration. Winner to be announced with great fanfare and hullabaloo at a time of my choosing sometime during the day of Monday, August 27th, 2007. Entries which are mutilated, altered, incomplete, tampered with, illegible, inaccurate, forged, irregular in any way, insulting, profane, argumentative, vague, vapid, vacuous, vitriolic, venial, vulgar, or otherwise not in compliance with my own somewhat whimsical wishes will be considered, you guessed it, VOID. Good luck....
Robert "why won't Ed McMahon just leave me alone?" Broderick ...the "Frozen Flatlands" of South Dakota Sioux Falls, USA