Classic & Vintage - Will the real Cobalto please....

OK I have been working with my Jeweler, who has made me some fabulous things over the last year, to find a suitable "Cobalto Jem". after a few tries we think we found the perfect one.

this is not a plastic trinket but a stone custom ground for him by a supplier.

so will the real Cobalto please stand up? (frankly after taking a dozen pics and moving then I am not sure)

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=178967&d=1290128349

Beautiful BG. What is the name of the stone?

(Could it be spinel?)

Did you make sure the stones were mined miles underground in the foothills of the Italian alps, hopefully just miles from the Campagnolo (or Bianchi) factories........and shipped to skilled gem cutters and polishers in New York who labored for months to get just the right blue light refraction when hit by early morning fall season sunlight and cut to perfectly measured diameters to exactly fit into the apertures of the tip of Cobalto brake pivot nuts...... before they sold and shipped them to your friend!!???........
You must have,....... cause they look fantastic!!:thumb:
Show us some pics when you have them on your bikes!:thumb:

Chombi

BG,

The factory 'stones' are stepped and sit on top of the outer edge versus being recessed. The pic below is a side profile shot of a genuine 'Cobalto' stone* and you can clearly see the smooth transition from the stone* to the nut. The second pic is of the craft store variety and it too sits on the outer edge but it not a 'stepped stone. A properly sized stone should cover the entire edge and be flush with the sides of the nut.


http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr314/jimr2527/Ebay2/DSC03921.jpg
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr314/jimr2527/Ebay2/DSC03918.jpg
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr314/jimr2527/Ebay2/DSC03917.jpg

Back left....

Chombi I am not sure which bikes I am goung to use these on. I may make some more Saphire Chorus brakes. and yes they were mined from the alps by Chorenthins be fore they were made into saddle leather LOL

Auchen. I'll check on the name.

Jim I think you might be right. I did try the AC more thing but never liked it

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=178991&d=1290133410

OK I have been working with my Jeweler, who has made me some fabulous things over the last year, to find a suitable "Cobalto Jem". after a few tries we think we found the perfect one.

this is not a plastic trinket but a stone custom ground for him by a supplier.

so will the real Cobalto please stand up? (frankly after taking a dozen pics and moving then I am not sure)

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=178967&d=1290128349

Would you be willing to supply the name of your supplier? I have Cobaltos on my Freschi and I worry about losing the stones.

I guess I am not a jewelry kind of guy. Spouse knows that, her wedding ring is titanium. When the Colbalto brakes came out, we felt it was a desperate attempt by Campagnolo to take attention away from the missing Deltas.

Titanium wedding ring is a great idea IMO.

I guess I am not a jewelry kind of guy. Spouse knows that, her wedding ring is titanium. When the Colbalto brakes came out, we felt it was a desperate attempt by Campagnolo to take attention away from the missing Deltas.

missing deltas? I thought Cobaltos predated Deltas? was there release delayed for some reason?

missing deltas? I thought Cobaltos predated Deltas? was there release delayed for some reason?

The first gen Deltas were flawed. Don't remember if they actually failed in some way or just didn't work well. Campy then substituted the Cobaltos in the C Record group until the second gen Deltas were available. That is my recollection anyway.

The first gen Deltas were flawed. Don't remember if they actually failed in some way or just didn't work well. Campy then substituted the Cobaltos in the C Record group until the second gen Deltas were available. That is my recollection anyway.
Tis true. When the first gen deltas proved problematic, Campy brought back the previous generation record (super?) calipers and enhanced them with the "stone".

Funny thing...Cobaltos are bringing pretty much the same as Deltas on Ebay right now.

The first gen Deltas were flawed. Don't remember if they actually failed in some way or just didn't work well. Campy then substituted the Cobaltos in the C Record group until the second gen Deltas were available. That is my recollection anyway.

IIRC, the first gen Deltas had probems with the knurled locking ring that locked the front covers to the calipers where the cables went in. They tended to crack on owners. The Deltas had other problems with dirt buildup in their mechanisms too. Some areas are not that accessible for easy cleaning/maintenance.....but of course they do look beautiful .....

Chombi

Would you be willing to supply the name of your supplier? I have Cobaltos on my Freschi and I worry about losing the stones.

I have them on my Sachs and sure wouldn't mind a supplier. I had a preliminary talk with my jeweler who seemed certain he could replace them when the time comes.

I replaced the missing stones on some Cobalto brakes with Cabochons from Ireland and they looked great. I'm not sure of the exact size but a jeweller friend worked them for me and they were quite inexpensive

I was working with my hardware store guy on something called a ...domed nut. No luck. .....he suggested I try my jeweler.

Would you be willing to supply the name of your supplier? I have Cobaltos on my Freschi and I worry about losing the stones.

I would suggest NOT riding with them. They often fall off into the bushes never to be seen again. Keep them in a drawer and use regular nuts for riding.

Obviously these are not perfect replacements but if you want something cheap that has reasonable appearance and that you won't be afraid to ride with you can try these:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0027I4C2K/ref=oss_product
The large ones (10mm) need to have the edges filed/sanded just a bit to fit. And you can get a variety of colors. Like I said not perfect but a very cheap replacement you won't be afraid to ride with.

I was working with my hardware store guy on something called a ...domed nut. No luck. .....he suggested I try my jeweler.

a 6mm "Acorn" should work. I would think your hardware guy (you are talking Ace or True Value right?) should know what is. it would not be pretty as a standard brake cap nut but woukld work.

as for my "Supplier" I will be happy to deliver you locknuts to him or try and get you the stones. I believe the cost is about $25 per. not cheap but they look great and they were made for me. if you wish faceted stones they are easy but I guess round ones this size are not common.

a 6mm "Acorn" should work. I would think your hardware guy (you are talking Ace or True Value right?) should know what is. it would not be pretty as a standard brake cap nut but woukld work.

as for my "Supplier" I will be happy to deliver you locknuts to him or try and get you the stones. I believe the cost is about $25 per. not cheap but they look great and they were made for me. if you wish faceted stones they are easy but I guess round ones this size are not common.

Thanks B Girl,
I was trying to be cute and funny, and, as usual, failed miserably. Thank you but, no, I don't really need any jewelry for my bike.
Thank you
RB

I always thought they had to be the tackiest thing Campagnolo ever produced.

I always thought they had to be the tackiest thing Campagnolo ever produced.

Which is part of what makes them so wonderful. They're over the top and completely blingy/ridiculous. It's part of what makes Campy so wonderful...and riding with a set of them is just FUN.

Biking is allowed to be bright and fun.

Biking is allowed to be bright and fun.

I've got a set of sparkly streamers I can send you. My daughter's done with them. :)

^
Dibs if Aaron passes.

Only if they're color coordinated with my sidewalls :D