> The first time I went to the Campagnolo factory I went for
> the big tour.
> Towards the end where items were assembled they proudly
> pointed out their
> parts were made with the "hand touch". They had this big
> strong guy with
> what looked like a 5 lb. hammer punching the pedal cages
> on! This guy did
> every pedal cage with this hammer. One would never, ever
> see this kind of
> thing at Shimano.
I toured the Campagnolo factory in 1987, with Ted Kirkbride, and with Tom Eason and his Ten Speed Drive sales crew. The tour ended with the "hand touch" emphasis also, Jim, but to my recollection, the employees were mostly small-to-average-sized women, with much lighter hammers.
Joe Starck
Madison, Wisconsin USA