I would say that the Stronglight 99 is a later model than early '70s. It is one with the indents on the right side (outer) of the spider. The earlier 99s were flat in this area and had no surface treatment, just polished. The 12 speed belies the earlier date as well.
Ken Wehrenberg, Hermann, MO
Don Gillies wrote:
Hey americans, check out this "missing link" carlton model :
It's essentially the early 70's white and blue raleigh competition, in carlton paint. The head badge is carlton, the lugs are nervex, it has the pro/competition italianesque (not cinelli) sloping crown, and the frame is 531-throughout.
In the states the entire head tube was blue, but this model shows just a stripe of blue 2" high that is centered beneath the Carlton head badge. other than that, I'm guessing that the bike originally was exactly the same as a 70-72 blue and white Raleigh competition model, even down to the "Competition" transfer on the chainstays.
I enjoy trying to figure out the correspondence (if any) between Carlton models and the Raleigh-Carltons, e.g. (Giro D'Italia, Fastback Pro), (Franco-Suisse (w/downtube shifters), International), (Competition, Competition / Gran Sport), etc.