[CR]Italian, English headset threading

(Example: Production Builders:Cinelli:Laser)

To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
From: "Bianca Pratorius" <biankita@earthlink.net>
Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2005 17:50:31 -0500
Subject: [CR]Italian, English headset threading

One more bit of confusion is added to the mix. I am now finding out that even if one determines that a headset is of a certain era and threaded (as all of the ones that we typically use here on this list), one may still need to determine Italian or English threading. I have checked a few of my headsets and they all seem to thread one on to the other whether Italian bike, English, or Japanese. The Crowns seem to measure 27 or so with my calipers on three forks I have here (without the crown race of course). The question is do I really have to worry if the threading is English or Italian when I search E-bay, since none of the headsets I have have threading info stamped anywhere that I can see, and few people even see fit to mention it in the descriptions? Also one book I have says that only qualified experts can actually select a proper headset for fit on any particular bike, and this book was published before threadless headsets were even a twinkle in Japan's eyes.

Garth Libre, not playing with a fully informed deck in Miami Fl.