I have also peeled off the plastic, but with variable results. Some have the writing on the guides some don't. I think is is function of how early in the production cycle the shoes were made. They probably, early on, used the stock of old shoes with printed guides until they ran out. That's what I suspect, anyway. Edward Albert Chappaqua, New York, U.S.A
Edward Albert, Ph.D.
Prof. Emeritus, Sociology
Hofstra University
>>> "Kurt Sperry" <haxixe@gmail.com> 08/10/08 4:01 PM >>>
Since I may be the only person who has ever peeled off the black
plastic coating on those brake shoes I'll report that unlike the
chrome engraved ones, the ones I've seen are a hard Al alloy and of
course don't have the engraving on them under the plastic. There may
be steel ones with the plastic, but I haven't run into those. I much
prefer the look of the older engraved type, much more elegant.
They polish up to a near chrome finish, here's one with the plastic removed after a few years of weathering:
http://picasaweb.google.com/
Kurt Sperry
Bellingham, Washington
USA