I seem to be atypical in this forum in that some experiences I have had with vintage components have so completely turned me off as to forever shudder at the thought of them and to want to make a cross with my hands in the probably vain attempt at forever keeping them at bay. As a kid I had so much trouble with loose cottered cranks, Sturmey Archer three speeds and their constantly breaking little chains going into the hub that as an adult I am absolutely repulsed by them. Of all the bikes I have owned as an adult, such parts have been eschewed like the plague. Admittedly I was even less of a mechanic then than I am now (and that's really saying something!) but the darn things were the bane of my bicycling life! As an adult I have had similar experiences with Rally derailleurs that refused all my attempts to make them work well . I realize that the Rally has a great many friends here, but I sure am not one of them.
There are many components that have served me to near perfection, but there are a few that have bedeviled me and made life miserable and continue to lurk in dark and scary places awaiting their opportunity. Someone used the term Devil's Spawn and that may well be where they originated from.perhaps from the Garden Of Eden where instead of snakes to bedivel us and sting our heels , certain evil components were unleashed upon us as punishment for our not so original sins.
I'm sure there are other components out there lurking, too, just awaiting their chance. Tubular tires? Radially spoked rims? Beware. Beware they can get you when you least suspect and even wreak havoc on those you love as in Aldo Ross' poor cat, all covered with Tubasti.
See you folks at Cirque!
Tom Sanders
Lansing, MI USA