[CR]Bivalent body structure, etc.

(Example: Framebuilding:Tubing:Falck)

Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 11:05:24 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Ted E. Baer" <wickedsky@sbcglobal.net>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]Bivalent body structure, etc.

What was the primary reason Cinelli changed the Bivalent hub body structure from the early three-piece style (1961-1964?) to the solid block aluminum bodies (circa 1965)? My guess would be primarily for overall strength improvement.

In reading the archives I came across one post that mentioned that the Bivalent hub bodies themselves were made by Campagnolo. Is this indeed true? Did Campagnolo make both the early style Bivalent (three piece) and the second style (solid block) as well?

Is there a Cinelli Bivalent "time-line" available somewhere? I see that the first generation hubs were introduced in 1961. Then in 1965 the second generation were introduced. How long after '65 did these hubs remain in production?

Lastly, there is a very old shop around here and I have seen hubs identical to the Cinelli Bivalent (laying around on the ground in the dirt) that are engraved "Schwinn" (in cursive writing.) Did Schwinn come up with a bivalent hub before Cinelli?

Ted Baer
Palo Alto, CA