don't forget that Campy went back to ball bearing pulleys on a couple models starting with the OT C-record rear derailleur..
the Huret Jubilees had at least one pulley with loose balls.
and Suntour Superbe Pro derailleurs came from the factory with sealed cartridge bearing pulleys..
the last time I took apart a recent (90s) Shimano rear derailleur it had a bushing similar to the traditional design but it was of ceramic and with rubber seals to protect it.. maybe because it was a long cage (mtn bike) model
andrei padlowski glen ridge, nj
> > CRers,
> >
> > Any thoughts on just why the trasition from ball bearing to sleave style
> be
> > arings happened in the 60's? Was it strickly driven by price/profit
> margin?
> > Even on the high end changers where "price is no object", they switched
> to
> > the inferior style. Campy, which many consider the standard, switched
> betw
> > een the Record and Nuovo Record in 1967.
> >
> > Who was the last manufacturer to make the switch? What year? Bullseye
> and o
> > thers came to our rescue not that long after with their nice alloy
> sealed b
> > earing replacement pulleys.
> >
> > Bill Talbot
> > New Hartford, CT USA