Re: [CR] Campagnolo RD timelines

(Example: Production Builders)

In-Reply-To: <4A0FC0FF.1080906@xtra.co.nz>
References: <4A0FC0FF.1080906@xtra.co.nz>
Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 08:30:13 -0700
To: Wayne Davidson <wayne.collect@xtra.co.nz>, CR <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
From: "Jan Heine" <heine94@earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: [CR] Campagnolo RD timelines


At 7:47 PM +1200 5/17/09, Wayne Davidson wrote:
>Both the GS and NR had variations during there life, but to be
>expected with the relative long runs, and the leaps and bounds in
>technology during the time, not heard anything about variations
>within the Records 10 year run...........regards wayne davidson
>Invers NZ..........

The lack of variations could indicate a single production run, with lots of parts in storage. Variations only are introduced when a new production run is started, usually after the stocks have been sold. So perhaps Record derailleurs were made only once, in 1962? Then they sold the remaining stocks, and when they were getting low, they introduced the NR as the next iteration?

Of course, that is just speculation. That said, I would be very surprised if Campagnolo had _produced_ any Record derailleurs after 1967. The fact that they were seen on OEM bikes indicates that they were sold at a discount to get rid of existing stocks.
>What I would find interesting is when was the GS RD dropped from
>production? Was it 1963 with the introduction of the Record, or was
>it 1967 with the introduction of the NR? One would not think all 3
>were in production at the same time, esp when others where being
>made as well.

As pointed out earlier, "available" does not mean "in production." It's not like Campagnolo had three assembly lines, one making GS, one Record and one NR derailleurs. They had a warehouse, with a shelf for GS, one for Record, and one for NR derailleurs.

The Alex Singer shop had their cam-actuated brakes in stock for decades. They had 500 sets made in the late 1940s, then the Mafac brakes came out, and the bike market collapsed, so there was little demand for these brakes. You can find them on 1960s bikes, and you might think that they still were "making" them, but in fact, they were just using up 15-year-old stocks. So the brakes remained in the program until they were sold out...

Jan Heine
Editor
Bicycle Quarterly
140 Lakeside Ave #C
Seattle WA 98122
http://www.vintagebicyclepress.com