Ever since Mark Bulgier posted the 1974 Raleigh team Pro brochure page,
http://bulgier.net/
it has got me wondering about a number of things. I very specifically remember seeing a Raleigh Team Pro, back around 1974 at my local Raleigh bike dealer in Albany, NY. That bike stands out very clearly in my mind and it did have black chainrings - other then that particular bike and the one in the brochure above, I've never seen black Campagnolo chainrings. Were they available for just a very, very short period of time? Also in the picture, notice the black headset - has anyone ever seen one of those - I do not recall seeing it on the bike with the black chainrings and think it would stand out in my memory if it had one on it.
Were the Team Pro's made with any more care than a "regular" Pro at the time? Were they just a more expensive/exclusive Raleigh, but still a production (limited production?) model, i.e. not custom? Does anyone know how many Team Pro's and Pro's were manufactured (by year????)?
What about serial numbers, did the pre-753 Team Pro's have special sequence to them. According to the Retro Raleigh web site, 753 Team Pro's began with "SB" as does the one Greg Parker currently has listed on ebay (Item # 2116944286). My frameset seems to fall into the serial number catagory "note 4" as on the Retro Raleigh web site. Mine is a fastback style Raleigh frameset that was sold to me as a 1974 model. It is Team Pro red with no decals and was repainted some time ago by a previous owner. Can anyone tell me anything about this frameset from it's BB markings. Looking at the BB with the "CC" backwards, downtube socket pointing down and chainstay sockets pointing up it is marked as follows:
"VANDAL" stamped horizontally between chainstay sockets and CC cutouts. "&" symbol faintly stamped on the right/drive side chainstay socket. "B" stamped sideways on the left side of the BB between the Vandal stamping and CC cutouts. "A9Z06" stamped parallel to the drive side cup face. The tops of each stamping are missing so it is possible I've mis-identified the numbers. backwards"L" stamped into the downtube socket.
Is there anyway to identify if this was a regular "Pro" or possibly a "Team Pro."
If you are still with me, great, you are a diehard too!
Any help on any of the above GREATLY appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Eric Elman
"catching up on emails today"
Somers, CT