Dan was surprised that I hadn't chimed in yet, but truth of the matter is that I've been so busy on a number of fronts that staying up with it all is really difficult. Spring has been really busy for MPI/VC, I'm exhibiting at the San Diego Custom show just after coming off doing the same at NAHBS in Richmond, and then there's the Cirque (more details about that later tonight, hopefully). Anyway, I'll try to cover a few things here before putting out a few more fires and hoping on a plane early tomorrow.
The MPI site should have a link to a PDF file of the most current VAR catalog sometime in the next few days. Velo Classique's site should have it shortly after. For the impatient among you, go here (it's a big file):
http://www.vartools.com/
To answer Richard's question about chainring bolt tools, VAR did (past tense) have a two prong screwdriver-style chainring nut tool #354, but it was replaced with a three prong version sometime in the late 70's or early 80's, but retained the same part number. The '83 catalog shows the 3-prong type. The current VAR number is PE-35400. The "center tab" could be easily ground off, and it would then resemble the original 2-prong tool.
http://vartools.com/
VAR also makes a "combined" chainring bolt tool that uses a 2-prong key and a 5mm hex key on the nut and bolt respectively, holding them both at the same time. This is probably the best tool ever for this task. That's just my opinion, of course, but the first time I used this tool I realized I had been dong it "the hard way" for way too many years. It won't work on some of the vintage hex-head bolt configurations though. This tool is where the 2-prong replacement key comes from that someone posted a BikeTool link to. It's also the tool that retails for about $60 to $70, a good investment IMO.
http://vartools.com/
That's all I have time for at the moment. Hope it helps a little.
Wayne -- Wayne Bingham Velo Classique PO Box 2069 Purcellville, VA 20134 USA 540-338-8376 http://www.veloclassique.com
From: Daniel Artley <dartley@baltimorecountymd.gov
>
Date: Tue, Apr 6, 2010 at 12:04 PM
Subject: Re: [CR] Source of VAR Tools & Catalogue?
To: Classic Rendezvous <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
I'm surprised Wayne Bingham hasn't chimed in yet, but he's the new
importer under MPI (Mel Pinto Imports) which he now owns, and is
marketing VAR tools from his very cool little shop in Purcellville, WV
and website Velo Classique. http://veloclassique.com/
Happy trails,
Dan Artley in Parkton, Maryland USA
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