In light of the recent publication of "Bikelore - Some History and Heroes of Cycling" (BL), edited by Gabor and Melanie Konrad, I'd like to add some editorial comments regarding the article entitled "Cino International" which will hopefully dissolve the (now published) myths about his Greatness, Cino Cinelli, an individual whom I have revered for decades for his contributions to our great hobby. Unfortunately, many so-called "Cinelli Firsts" as many folks believe, are myth rather than fact.
The BL article implys, and many believe, that Cino developed the allopy handlebar. Although the article (on page 35) indicates that this was Cinelli's first real product, that is not in fact true. It was the development of the sloping fork crown, around which Cinelli developed an entire cycle, the Speciale Corsa (know in export market circles as the SuperCorsa). Even the development of this crown was not necessarily a "first". Examples of sloping crowns go back to teh earliest days of the tour dFrance, although not as refined as the Cinelli version. It was Cinelli's refinement of an idea that made this particular component famous.
The development of Cinelli alloy bars, to the best of my knowledge came much later in his career, as late as the early 60's, and went into production in the mid 60's. However, I think we should try to determine here, with the help of some of the historians on this list, as to when the earliest lightweight, dropped style, racing handlebars first appeared. I know for a fact that Caminade developed them as early as 1935/6, and that the British publication "Cycling" hailed that development in as August 1936 article hailing that makers achievements. the 1940 Hudson Superlight Accessories catalog lists Hudson Dural Bars and stems (thanks C.S.).
Another Cinelli myth, that has long been trademarked as a Cinelli "first" is the fastback seat stay. Interesting that there is a Condor on EBay that has a very nice fastback seat stay detail. That particular design can be attributed to British builder William B. Hurlow, who developed that idea at Condor Cycles in the late 30's, later utilizing it in his own designs as well as for work he jobbed for the Holdsworthy concern. Weather or not Hurlow's work in this area can be attributed to other influences I do not know for sure, but in speaking with him on several ocassions, his feeling in the design o fthat particular stay detail was that it was a "natural location for the stays to terminate, directly on the centerline of the top tube, and the graphic detail of integrating the binder bolt into this detail was a 'natural' outcome."
The BL article suggests, rather explicitly, that in 1951 the Binda toestrap was the first leather toestrap. Where do I start here? Leather toestraps go back to the pre turn of the century safety era, and have been employed in racing cycles from teh earliest days of the Tour d'France. The earliest examples of racing style toestraps and integrated clips I know of were manufactured by Christophe as well as Lapize. Who came first?
BL goes on to say that Cinelli developed the first plastic shelled saddle, the unicanitor. in fact, cinelli bought the Nitor concern in 1962. At that time, Nitor had been producing plastic shelled saddles (called Nitor) as well as seatpins. It was Cinellis modification of the Nitor, making it adaptable to both Campagnolo and Simplex seatpins that was his achievement in this area, and further developing it into the more comprehensive Unicanitor line of leather covered (padded and unpadded) saddles famous for nearly three decades.
i don't mean to belittle the achievements of the Cinelli company, here. It is simply that this dialogue about "firsts", especially now that it is in print, tends to propogate myths about a legend.
I invite all to research, and add substantiated information to this text.
Thnaks,
ken denny
Boston