Here is what I have been using as the definitive description of the various Christophe toe clips. It was provided several years ago by Robert S. Broderick and supported by a link to one of his catalog scans. Unfortunately the link is now disconnected. Maybe if Mr. Broderick sees this he can provide the new link.
"I certainly can clarify just what Christophe logo would be proper for the years 1973 to 1975. As you may have noted from one of my recent posts to the CR List regarding "Shimano Dura-Ace timeline / effective search algorithms / catalogs", I have been working on digitizing the various printed matter that I have on hand and posting same to my Wool Jersey album. Of particular note with respect to Christophe toe clips would be the Poutrait-Morin catalog from the 1974 New York Bike Show, page 6 which clearly depicts the proper logo from that era located at the apex of the metal straps. Furthermore, you can clearly see that standard Christophe toe clips were differentiated by size with their "Christophe D" being petite, "Christophe" being a size medium", and "Christophe Special" being a size large. It was not until 1977 coincident to their revising the logo markings on these toe clips that Christophe introduced the "Christophe Special X" model which would be size extra large "
Norm Lafleur
Ashfield, Massachusetts
USA
From: "Harvey Sachs" <hmsachs@verizon.net> To: "kevin sayles" <kevinsayles@tiscali.co.uk> Cc: <hsachs@alumni.rice.edu>; "Classic Rendezvous" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Sent: Saturday, April 03, 2010 9:40 AM Subject: Re: [CR] WTB, WTT: single Christophe Special Long toe clip
> Here's my understanding of Christophe toe clips:
> short: small Christophe, perpendicular to length of toe clip
> medium: larger Christophe, parallel to length
> long: Christophe Special, parallel to length.
>
> earlier: underline, single line font.
> later: no underline, outline (double line) font.
>
> I don't know the date of the transition, but I have some almost completely
> de-plated "old" ones that I've suspected might be 50s or before. I don't
> know...
>
> thanks,
>
> harvey sachs
> mcLean va.
>
> kevin sayles wrote:
>
>> Harvey,
>> I have two pair of Christophe special [long] clips........one pair has
>> 'Christophe special' with the lower part of the 'C' forming a underline,
>> these have been used and are in good condition, though show signs of
>> chrome loss on the section where the toe strap passes through the hoop
>> [probably from scraping along the ground when bike being wheeled]
>>
>> The second pair seem to be unused and have Christophe special, but no
>> underlining, and the style of writing for Christophe is 'double' there
>> must be a name for this....but it escapes me......I guess these are the
>> later type?
>>
>> Let me know off-line if any help........BTW just what is the difference
>> between the Christophe 'special' and non-special clips...apart from the
>> stamping and seemingly a higher price?
>>
>> cheers
>> Kevin Sayles
>> Bridgwater Somerset UK
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Harvey Sachs" <hmsachs@verizon.net>
>> To: "Classic Rendezvous" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
>> Sent: Saturday, April 03, 2010 12:52 PM
>> Subject: [CR] WTB, WTT: single Christophe Special Long toe clip
>>
>>
>>> Need one orphan old-logo Christophe toe clip in good rider condition for
>>> my PX-10 rebuild. The right (or left, they're the same) clip will say
>>> "Christophe special" on the top of the clip, underlined, in single width
>>> type (not outline, like the later ones). Or a pair, if you have a pair
>>> to sell.
>>>
>>> NOS not wanted for this bruised and battered veteran of the NYC and
>>> Boston war zones. :-)
>>>
>>> thanks,
>>>
>>> harvey sachs
>>> mcLean va