[CR]Brake levers and seat posts

(Example: Component Manufacturers:Cinelli)

From: "Dennis Stover" <dennis@mrpconsulting.com>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Date: Fri, 12 Jul 2002 09:27:51 -0700 (PST)
In-Reply-To: <CATFOODOwYEIEktho3s000031d4@catfood.nt.phred.org>
Subject: [CR]Brake levers and seat posts

Hi guys (and gals),

I have been on the road this week. I cannot seem to find the URL to the pictures of the various NR/SR brake levers. Could someone out there please provide the link? Offline response is fine. I have several old brake levers and am curious if any of them are the "extra special super rare" first generation SR. I would hate to sell a set on Ebay without knowing.

On the subject of Super Record seat posts. One thing I have not seen brought up is the difference in the logo between a NR and SR. I have owned several seat posts over the years, so please correct me if I am wrong. This is my observation, not a statement of absolute truth.

I have noticed that the Super Record 2 bolt post has a script logo on the front, the size on both sides, with "Patent Campagnolo" on the back. Nuovo Record posts have the globe logo on the front with the size on the back.

I have seen many NR posts with flutes machined to make them look like a SR. The logo is a dead giveaway. Coming from a machinist background, I have also noticed that in every SR seat post (1 bolt or 2) are cut with what appears to be the side of the cutter. You will notice that the flutes taper to a rounded point at each end, with a very nice radius along the bottom of the flute. In every example of a "converted" NR seat post, the end of an endmill is used. This results in a groove that is square at the bottom and the ends have a full radius. The finish at the bottom of the flute will look like a series of circles. There are way too many examples of garage machinist cutting grooves into NR seat posts. The craftsmenship is poor at best. To throw a wrench into this, my original Gios Torino seat post that I purchased back in 1979 is a 1 bolt SR with the Gios logo engraved on each side. The post appears to have come from Campy with no flutes. The Gios logo was engraved, then the flutes were cut. There are 3 flutes on the front and back with no flutes on the sides where the logo is. I can't tell for sure if Campy cut the flutes or if Gios did. The end result is still very nice.

Dennis Stover
Arleta, CA
(converting them NR seatpost to SR)