I don't own a Nitto stem, but they have been of casual interest to me on a "keeper of the flame" level--i.e. they are a relatively cool item that is still being manufactured. I have two questions about the Technomic in particular. Does anyone know when (to the year) it appeared, and has the logo (model name) always had the same appearance? In other words, are the ones you can buy now essentially the same as they ever were? A well-known purveyor of parts has it that it's been around "for decades", but that's not very specific. Three decades? Or only two? Available in Japan for decades, but less time in the U.S.? That seems plausible. I'm curious to know the year of introduction--of earliest manufacture. It occurs to me that it may be one of those items that precedes general awareness of its existence by some time...perhaps because the need for it was not generally felt. Also, Nitto's been around a long time--but what about "distribution"? Some items remain obscure in the U.S. (or did) because they were not well- or widely distributed. Comments? Information?
I liked Chuck's grudging tolerance of the stem as a perhaps necessary compromise; I agree to the extent that to me it's not an unqualified classic--but I'm willing to consider it classic, with qualification. Viz:
The application for which I am considering a Technomic stem is a '70s Gitane tandem which is a bit small for me, but right for the stoker. Getting a larger frame is not really an option here--and I like the short top tube, anyway. I just would prefer not to be bent over that far--it almost feels like I've got handlebars on a unicycle, and am towing a trailer! Getting the bars higher would seem to be the one thing I can do to make this rig more comfortable over the course of a few hours' trip. I realize I would have to remove some material to get the stem into a french steerer...and I don't like to modify anything old, so again the Nitto is attractive (from that point of view). In a perfect world, however, I'd be able to buy a tall stem that is in the older, exposed bolt style--just my aesthetic preference, as I'm rooted in '50s / '60s style, and the Gitane is old-fashioned for its time. Maybe this meditation will prompt some idea or observation from the members? The original stem was ATAX with a narrow steel bar. I switched to an early Belleri stem and wider Belleri alloy bars (the stock stoker stem was Belleri, so it seemed fitting). Lighter & wider, but not much higher. I've been considering Nitto Technomic with an even wider (45 cm) Nitto Randonneur bend bar--in quest of additional leverage for the tandem application.
As ever, thanks for indulging my wordiness and the length of the post.
Tom Ward
New York City