At 1:04 PM -0600 11/20/08, John Hurley wrote:
>List,
>Sorry if I missed this, but I haven't seen any opinions on the relative
>durability of the B17 vs the Special Champion vs the Pro. I seem to
>remember reading some sales talk somewhere to the effect that a better
>grade of leather was used in the Specials and the Pros. (I hope I'm
>getting these model names somewhat right).
It used to be the case in the 1950s, when Daniel Rebour visited the Brooks factory, that the then top-of-the-line saddles used the best leather. There was only enough leather in an entire hide for 3 of those saddles. The rest was used for lower-grade models.
In recent years, visitors to the Brooks factory have reported that the stencils are laid out on the hide so that the most saddle tops can be created, with little concern to grain. All saddles were made from the same leather.
By the way, the mid-1950s through mid-1960s Brooks B-17, which came in several widths, are the most comfortable saddles I have ridden, even in their old age.
See a report here
http://www.vintagebicyclepress.com/
Jan Heine
Editor
Bicycle Quarterly
140 Lakeside Ave #C
Seattle WA 98122
http://www.bikequarterly.com