[CR] Spanninga Dynamos & Lights??

(Example: Framebuilding:Tubing)

Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2009 10:00:49 -0800
From: Jerome & Elizabeth Moos <jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net>
To: Classic Rendezvous <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
In-Reply-To: <267840.79513.qm@web53503.mail.re2.yahoo.com>
Subject: [CR] Spanninga Dynamos & Lights??


Has anyone used the current Spanninga Dynamos like those sold by Velo Orange? Has anyone used both those and the current B&M? How do they compare? Except the original dynamo on a late 60's LeJeune tandem which probably doesn't work, the three dynamos I own are all relatively recent B&M's which work very well and have a reputation for durability. But the Spanninga is a good bit cheaper. I'm considering converting the Assenmacher touring bike from battery to dynamo lighting. Doesn't have a dynamo brazeon, but I bought from a European CR member a dynamo bracket that secures to the cantilever brake caliper. Is the Spanninga a real bargain, or am I better served to stick with B&M? A dynamo is one of those items, IMHO, where reliability is more important than price, but it's also true that the highest priced components aren't automatically the best. Opinions?

BTW, anyone know a source for these special bolts used for securing a front rack, or in this case a dynamo bracket, to cantilever brakes:

http://www.velo-orange.com/cabrramobo.html

They have been out of stock at Velo Orange for a while now. Jitensha Studio has them, but will sell them only with a rack. Anyone know another source that will sell them separately?

One thing I like about B&M is the "Standlight" feature that maintains the light, although less bright, when the bike is stopped. But other brands, Spanninga, included, now offer this feature as well. I placed an order last night with Velo Orange for a couple of the low-down light mounts, but while I was at it included a classic-looking rack mount Spanninga rear light with Standlight, which like the dynamo, is less expensive than the B&M equivalent. We'll see how it works. The only Spanninga bit I'm using now is a realtively inexpensive battery-powered mudguard-mount rear light which I use as backup and supplement for a B&M rear dynamo light, even though the B&M has Standlight (lights are a place where a little redundancy is worth the expense and effort). Actually, I recently bought one of these, only to find that I had a couple in the parts bin bought several years ago, that are identical, except the older ones are not marked Spanninga. Did Spanninga buy some other light manufacturer who used to make these mudguard lights, or perhaps just change the company name?

Regards,

Jerry Moos
Big Spring, Texas, USA