I am currently running an auction on eBay for an old T/A right side crank (http://ebay.com/<blah> seeking advice from anyone in the group who is highly familiar with T/A cranks. My question is: What year was this crank made? The crank in said auction has the pedal cap on the back of it with a little hole drilled through the center.
A while back, a person ran an auction for a 1958 Campagnolo first-generation crankset that had pedal caps and stated something along the lines of: 1. There was a closed pedal cap on the 1958 first generation model; 2. In 1959, the pedal cap appeared with a hole drilled through it; 3. By 1960, the pedal cap was eliminated entirely. With that said, and given that his information MAY BE correct, wouldn't it be safe to assume that the T/A crank with similar characteristics would be of the same time period?
I received a note from a CR member this morning stating that this crank was made in 1973. Since I do not know much about T/A cranks or the company, there is a good chance that this person is correct. The only thing I am questioning is this: If Campagnolo went through the "pedal cap ordeal" between the years of 1958 and 1960, why then would T/A incorporate a pedal cap 15 years later when they (T/A) knew that the cap was unnecessary and hence would add to production time as well as material and labor costs to manufacture these cranksets? I am presenting this to the group in an effort to get as much member feedback as possible as I may have to edit my auction.
Also, does anyone know of a website I can go to in order to further my knowledge of T/A company history?
Thanks for the advice!
A bit chilly in Palo Alto, CA
Ted E. Baer