Stephen Barner wrote:
>
> You must not have worked on Sturmy Archer 3-speeds, Chuck. That was our
> source for freewheel spacers. We even had them in different thicknesses,
> used for adjusting chainline on the internally geared hubs. Not as classy
> as the aluminum ones, but they worked fine.
No, you are CORRECT, Sir. I only had eyes for racing bikes, so SAs were things to be viewed with total disdain. Like the face you make when you step in some dog poo!
I bought a Raleigh Pro Mark IV in early 1976 (first bike as an adult); full Campy and it didn't have a freewheel spacer. Then I bought a champagne Masi G.C. in 1977 and it didn't have a freewheel spacer. Then I assembled a Grandis with Campagnolo Nuovo Record and Regina and no freewheel spacers were provided with the hubs or the freewheel. Then I bought a Confente in 1978 and again no freewheel spacer anywhere to be seen. And then I bought a Team Peugeot in 1978; no freewheel spacer. And then I bought a De Rosa in the early 1980s... and so on, and so on, and... well you get the picture.
I never saw nor heard of such a thing as a freewheel spacer, nor did I see any being used in any of the SoCal pro shops I hung around in the 1970s and early 1980s (John's in Pasadena, Bud's in Claremont, Marina del Rey, Gus Dandos in the valley, Wilshire West, Bicycleville in Santa Monica, Bikcology). A Campagnolo Record hub was the gold standard in the racing bike universe and I figured a Regina Oro freewheel was made to be mated to Tullio's baby without the need of any additional chingaderas.
Like I said, I found out about Campagnolo freewheel spacers (1, 1.5 & 2 mm) one rainy afternoon while idly thumbing though my big silver spiral bound Campagnolo "catalogue n. 17" and my life with my hubs and freewheels has been changed forever (only in good ways of course;)
Chuck Schmidt South Pasadena, Southern California
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