Fred Rednor wrote:
> > Usually they were just slapped on, clamped to the seat
> > stays and would
> > tend to slide down stripping paint as they went.
> > I later found out that in the supplied hardware there was a
> > T bracket
> > that reached the brake bolt and arrested this behavior,
> > I'm not sure if this was always a standard piece that was
> > just ignored in most installations...
> Marcus,
> If my recollection of ancient history is working well, the T brackets didn't appear until 1975. Before that, you made your own, or bought an aftermarket piece. Also, at one point, Pletscher sold the racks with an "improved" style clamp that they eentually abandoned. This style used a strap that wrapped around each stay. I _think_ this style was abandoned when the T-bracket became a standard part of their mounting kit.
> Cheers,
> Fred Rednor -Arlington, Virginia (USA)
>
>
Thanks to folks on and off-list who helped with my understanding of the
variations in mounting styles and dates.
I have also been informed that there were strut length differences to accommodate 26" & 27" wheel sizes.
I had never actually bought one of these racks separately, all the ones that have passed through my grubby hands have come pre-attached to bikes. Now that I think of it the ones I have owned with the T bracket were attached to two 1977 and 1978 Raleighs and a 1980 Nishiki.
Also my humble apologies to bike store accessory assemblers that I wrongly thought may have been discarding the T bracket to expedite installation.
Marcus Coles
London, Ontario, Canada