By 1974 (introduction of the Dura-Ace SP I think) it was a whole new pricing ballgame and the Dura-Ace brakes were never in the $30-35 price range.
It went like this, in 1972 high interest rates and a period of high inflation caused Nixon to declare a price freeze. Foreign prices climbed anyway (of course) and everyone who imported bike parts was screwed. Schwinn got stuck at the price of $350 for the complete Campagnolo bike less brakes bike and the back orders went to a year because it was evident that prices had taken a step function leap on all imported goods.
When the dust settled in 1974 upper grade bikes sold for $450+, Universal 68 brakes sold for $29, $60 would be a great price for the Dura-Ace and I think you could sell the Campagnolo all day for $99 retail if you could get them.
We can't imagine a US president declaring a "price freeze" today, so we tend to forget the effect on the economy at the time and the bicycle industry in particular. In a nutshell, at the height of bicycle and part demand, the government dictated prices and the supply of imported goods stopped. Once the restraints ceased and supplies returned, prices were up 30%.
Even more broadly, in the US, pre bike boom and post bike boom collecting are two different kettles of fish as the quantity of quality bikes sold after 1970 increased tenfold.
Joe Bender-Zanoni Great Notch, NJ
Jerome & Elizabeth Moos wrote:
> I bought my first lightweight in 1972. A Peugeot PX-10 was $200 complete, maybe even $180. So a $50 set of Campy brakes seemed an item only for the wealthy. I think a new set of Mafac Competitions (I think the Competitions were out in 1972) was less than $20.
>
> When I bought a LeJeune F-70 (PX-10 equivalent) a year or two later, I "upgraded" to original Dura-Ace SP's because they were similar to the Campys but significantly cheaper. Don't remember exactly, but I think maybe the DA's were $30 - $35.
>
> Regards,
>
> Jerry Moos
> Big Spring, Texas
>
>
> Bob Hanson <theonetrueBob@webtv.net> wrote:
> The Retail price for the 1972 P13 was actually $350... which makes the
> $50 Campy brake option even more outrageous.
>
> Also, regarding kickstand [groan!] we're assuming the original owner was
> a total idiot. Perhaps he had merely purchased the kickstand for a
> different bike and then simply paid the bike shop for everything at the
> same time - so, it had all just appeared on the same receipt... right?
> I suspect the repaint would have also included repair of any clamp
> damage, so we may never know.
>
> ~ The following are all links to Bob Hufford's great Schwinn lightweight
> website. [A lotta Kool stuff on that website, Bob!] :
>
> Scroll down for 1972 Paramount specs:
> http://www.geocities.com/
>
> Paramount page in 1972 catalog:
> http://www.geocities.com/
>
> Retail Price sheet:
> http://www.geocities.com/
>
> Dealer price sheet:
> http://www.geocities.com/
>
> Enjoy!
>
> Bob Hanson, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA