Re: [CR] Two B-17 Competitions and Special Campy Seatpost

(Example: Racing:Wayne Stetina)

In-Reply-To: <452722.50494.qm@web82207.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
References: <4B055567.70900@blueyonder.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:58:36 -0500
From: "Via Bicycle" <viabicycle@gmail.com>
To: Jerome & Elizabeth Moos <jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net>
Cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: Re: [CR] Two B-17 Competitions and Special Campy Seatpost


Jerry, you can see the seatpost parts here in my auction for the brooks seat. http://ebay.com/<blah> or auction #260505745149

the lower portion has less offset than the more ubiqitoius ones. the tops are cute and small. The parts will fit on any Campagnolo Nuovo record seatpost.

they are very hard to find, either way.

the other saddle is nice, but not 1950s, and keyhole looks not factory done, as the earlier keyholes were. plus the later stamping. It has obviously been "hotrodded," because the back leather has been trimmed as well.

joel flood philadelphia, PA

On Thu, Nov 19, 2009 at 10:36 AM, Jerome & Elizabeth Moos <jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> There are currently two different B-17 Competition saddles on eBay:
>
> http://ebay.com/<blah>
>
> AND
>
> http://ebay.com/<blah>
>
> I've heard of the B-17 Competition from CR saddle guru Tony Colegrave.  It seems this model was in some ways the forerunner of the Professional.  I have a Brooks Competition (not B-17), but that is a compltely different, less expensive model, more the level of a B5N.
>
> The first eBay saddle is a B-17 Competition Campagnolo Model (and so marked).  It has narrow rails to fit a special Campagnolo seatpost.  I've heard of this several times here, as evidently Cinelli also made a saddle for this post.  Such saddles seem to go for high prices, and the seller has an $849 BIN on this one, (or Best Offer).  We'll see how this turns out.
>
> So what was this Campagnolo post that required narrow-spaced rails?  Anyone have a photo of one?  Was this some special version, or did all the first generation Campy seatposts have narrow spacing?  If a special version, what was the idea behind it?  If just the first Campy post, why would they use what seems a very nonstandard design, limiting the choice of saddles?
>
> The second saddle is said to be 50's, but has the newer Brooks stamp rather than the old oval one, although the newer stamp was in use by the early 60's at least, so who knows?  It also has "keyhole" cutouts on the top, rather the shape of those on the new Imperial, but very much smaller, more like a variation of the small round hole found on many leather saddles.  Which brings up a question I've never thought about before.  What exactly was the purpose of holes in the top of leather saddles?  I know the large cutouts like the Imperial were claimed to alleviate pressure, but what about small, usually round holes?  It seems these are often found on less than top models, although this B-17 would have been at the top of the Brooks line at the time.
>
> Regards,
>
> Jerry Moos
> Big Spring, Texas, USA