I believe that Pletschers came with all 3 pieces. That included the straight bar (that goes against the rack's drilled front, extending it's width), the curved bar (goes in front of, and cradles the stays) and the T-bar (connects the thru bolts to the brake bridge, to prevent slipping).
That's plenty of hardware for a solid mounting, perhaps too much (and too many grams or too much complexity), as many did the installation using only one of the bars if the rack's cast mounting front was at least as wide as the seatstay spacing. So, sadly, many used bikes come with a Pletscher rack missing one or two pieces, and with the stay's paint scratched all to heck.
David Snyder Auburn, CA usa
Jon Spangler wrote:
>
> Matthew,
>
> The stock clamp "back in the day" in the 1970s (when I was in college and
> these slide-prone racks were almost all that was available) was, indeed,
> that straight bar. If you want to use this rack for any real- world
> purpose at all (other than on a show-only bike), you will need to upgrade
> the mounting system, which many of us did back then.
>
> The straight-bar clamp will definitely--as you correctly surmised--
> crimp the stays if you tighten the screws down enough to *perhaps* keep
> that clamp from slipping under a sometimes very light load. I recommend
> using more modern coated clamps (available from your local hardware store
> or LBS) that wrap securely around each seat stay, and skip "authenticity"
> of using OEM hardware. Many of us improvised with hose clamps, plumbing
> straps, and other hardware store options "BITD," so you are well within
> the period norm to do what we did 35-40 years ago.
>
> The original straight rack-clamping bar has no redeeming social value
> whatever, IMHO, except to sell to a collector who *has* to have one--
> and perhaps needs his/her head examined for that reason as well... ;-)
>
> Glad to be using solid-rod racks with solid padded individual-stay clamps
> all around,
Matthew 'Devotion' Bowne wrote:
>>
>> On my commute this morning, I found a Pletscher "Model RS" rear rack on
>> the side of the road. I think with a little cleaning, it's gonna make a
>> lovely addition to my DiBartolomei 'townie' (A 1X7 Nuovo Record-equipped
>> on-topic roadie with Cinelli 'priest' bars and a front basket).
>> The mounting hardware was present, however the bracket looks different
>> from those found on other Pletshers I have seen. The rear plate that
>> wraps around the seat stay is typically bent/curved in such a way that
>> it will 'cradle' the seat stays while clamping on to them. The bracket
>> that I found attached to this rack is straight. If I were to use it, do
>> I run the risk of crimping the seat stays during install? Or is it more
>> likely to slip when under a (light) load? Anybody ever put a strip of
>> rubber or tape around the stays to protect 'em? Also, I plan to use
>> p-claps on the lower mount, as there are no eyelets on my frame. Am I
>> destined to have a rack that'll go slip-slidin' away? Should I be
>> looking for replacement hardware? Or should I return it to the curb
>> where it was found? Please share your creative rack mounting
>> experiences...
>>
>> Many thanks,
>> Matthew Bowne