Joe Bender-Zanoni <joebz@optonline.net> wrote:
I'll side with Chuck. Mass awareness of Campagnolo components had be strongly influenced by Schwinn Paramounts and the millions of Paramount brochures.
In the early 1960's racing was a very marginal sport in the US, at least here in the east coast. Small enclaves knew of Cinelli (Kopp's Cycles), Frejus (Tommy Avenia) and Alvin Drysdale. In the know racers went and plunked down their money for Campagnolo equipped bikes. Starting in 1972 I used to race with older guys who had Campagnolo equipped bikes like these from say 1962. But this was inside knowledge and even among racers a full Campagnolo equipped bike was mostly a goal- not just something you went out and bought.
For the masses, the Schwinn catalog was on every dealers counter- and free! Raleigh really didn't have a lightweight presence or solid US marketing plan until after the Carlton purchase.
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With all due respect to the other old fogies on the list, I would point out other influences that helped popularize Campagnolo. First, it didn't take me long to find Cyclo-Pedia after buying my first real road bike in the summer 0f '63. I suspect that was through the tiny ads in the back of bike magazines, but don't remember for sure. The Campy stuff was - ahem - just a bit (!) more costly than the Huret and Simplex alternative derailleurs, the TA and Stronglight cranks, etc.
And, there was another "hook," the humble Sears, Roebuck catalog. My '61 had Campy derailleurs, and here is the language from the '65 catalogue (the only one I found at the Smithsonian's microfiche collection):
"Our finest...smoothest shifting. $94.50
"All needless weight's been trimmed off without sacrificing quality or style.. Weighs less than 31 pounds including acces- sories. Campagnolo gear changers give 47 to 101 power ratio. Plenty of sparkle with chrome-plated handlebars, hubs, head frame lugs and fork tips. Aluminum racing rims, removable fenders..And whitewalls: 27x1-1/4-inclh clim tires. "Finest Weinmann dual center pull brakes with rear cable inside frame..legs don't rub cable. Wide release brake lever, quick-release hubs speed wheel changes. Rear chain wheel guard ring; 2 front, 5 rerar sprockets. Rubber covered brake grip housing, wrapped handlebars! 3 wrench tool kit. Kick stand. Seat to pedal adjusts 34 to 39 inches. From free Austria."
[Actually, handlebars and hubs are aluminum].
Harvey (can't resist making pig's ears from silk purses) Sachs McLean VA