I thought some might be interested in a truly neat-o detail I've discovered on this Pogliaghi tandem I am now caretaking...
The tandem is from the late 60s (s/n in the 8000 range) and is totally original and/or of the period except for the rims and spokes. I just cleaned it up and tweeked it on Saturday and we took it for a short spin. It's quite smooth and stiff, very much a refined and sporty ride. We like it. I feel very lucky to be able to enjoy it with my girlfriend Carmen, who is new to tandems but has really taken to the whole scene. As have I. Of course, one has to be a little more careful collecting tandems, as they will probably all be very difficult to sell...I have little doubt the few I have will encumber my estate, such as it is..<g>
The detail is this--and it has every appearance of being a factory job. The steerer tube was left long, and a narrow slot was cut all the way through the steerer, at the top. The headset top-race and locknut are separated by what appears to be a custom-made chromed-steel clamp-band. This allows the short-quill Cinelli stem to be clamped lightly in the thread area of the steerer...then you tighten down the band, and the stem is secure. This allows the stem/bars to be raised much higher than would normally be the case with this combination. I was afraid I'd have to replace the bars and stem to make it comfortable for me... but it's not necessary.. I left it as is, and it's just right!
This arrangement looks better than a long-quill stem would, and works fine. I'm kinda surprised I haven't seen it on more old bikes; this must have been some kind of special order feature..although given the tidiness of the clamp, you'd think Pogliaghi did this more than once... or, maybe the shop that put it together did the work, and spec'd the steerer long for that purpose.
In any event, it's a lovely thing. You can see it in the pics of the bike on the woodjersey site. Morgan shot the bike while it was at Velosport awhile back.
I know if I were having a custom frame made, I'd spec something like this, having seen and used it. Where you'd get the clamp-band I don't know..you'd probably have to have it made custom..unless they're available somewhere, which seems unlikely.
Charles Andrews
SoCal