Classic & Vintage - What's going on with these Campagnolo RDs??

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y44/BeckVFR/AthenaRD.jpg
Here's the Athena RD I've been fiddling around with lately and I can't seem to find consistent information or images on it as it looked like the Athena changed quite a bit through it's evolution in the late 80's/early 90's....but now I find this RD for sale at eBay.......
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y44/BeckVFR/ChorusRD.jpg
It's identical to my Athena! Did Campagnolo re-label Chorus RDs to become Athenas?
Did Campagnolo do this with their other models to establish new model lines by relabeling exiting ones?

Chombi

Yes.

Campagnolo was known for this, but I've yet to see a variant absolutely identical in every respect; usually one small detail would be changed through the trickle-down process.

Are you sure the quality of the aluminum finish is identical in every respect?

-Kurt

Campagnolo was known for this, but I've yet to see a variant absolutely identical in every respect; usually one small detail would be changed through the trickle-down process.

Are you sure the quality of the aluminum finish is identical in every respect?

-Kurt

They're 100% identical from what I see in the pic of the one on eBay. Just the Chorus/Athena tags that are different. Anyway, if this was really just a relabeling by Campagnolo, it wouldn't make sense for them to change anything else and end up with more cost other than the new silk screened neame on the front pivot arm. I suspect that they ended up selling the "new" Athena RD about the same or similar price as they did when it was a Chorus. The new Chorus whould have been more expensive then.

Chombi

There seems to be a little difference in the mounting tab or washer.

I have the two you show above, too. Pretty much the same.
I like to think the Chorus is different, but that just makes me feel better.

I also have both in the 7-sp pre-Ergo version. Of course, they're not labeled, so I wouldn't know.
The Chorus came with a Chorus group, and the prev owner had no problems shifting.
After I put it on a bike, the owner complained that the shifting was off.
The insert was supposed to work with Athena, not Chorus. Somehow, it worked fine for a trusted colleage before.
So, I bought the Athena RD, or at least that's what the seller said. It doesn't work any better on the same insert.
I think it was owner misadjustment, because it worked fine when I had it and test-rode it. Go figure.

This experience probably set back my conversion to Campy about a year.
Now, I just don't give a ----, I use Campy stuff, 8-sp and up, and call it a day.

According to the 1995 spare part catalogue, the Athena and Chorus rear derailleurs differed in the pivot bolt assembly and the rear cage plate. The other parts are the same (except of course the body).

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y44/BeckVFR/AthenaRD.jpg
Here's the Athena RD I've been fiddling around with lately and I can't seem to find consistent information or images on it as it looked like the Athena changed quite a bit through it's evolution in the late 80's/early 90's....but now I find this RD for sale at eBay.......
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y44/BeckVFR/ChorusRD.jpg
It's identical to my Athena! Did Campagnolo re-label Chorus RDs to become Athenas?
Did Campagnolo do this with their other models to establish new model lines by relabeling exiting ones?

Chombi

They are probably functionally the same. There were some small differences noted in the parts, to my eye the big difference is that the outer parallelogram link on the Athena is not flat, but the Chorus is flat at least in the surface parallel to the pivots.
Note the edge near the pivots, whereas the Athena gets a crowned surface.

Speaking of Campy RD. I need a Campagnolo Nuovo Record Rear Derailleur for my '78 Paramount.

They are probably functionally the same. There were some small differences noted in the parts, to my eye the big difference is that the outer parallelogram link on the Athena is not flat, but the Chorus is flat at least in the surface parallel to the pivots.
Note the edge near the pivots, whereas the Athena gets a crowned surface.
Here's another shot of a Chorus showing the same convex front arm face as on the Athena, I dunno, but it could be the parts were sourced from subcontractors with slightly different moulds?? I'm surprised how Campagnolo would be so inconsistent with such basic parts on their derailleurs:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y44/BeckVFR/ChorusRD2.jpg
Notice the different cable anchor bolt on this NOS example from eBay though.....Could be a swithcheroo by the seller?.
BTW, I'm still trying to figure out what's going on the upper pivot limiting plate on my Athena in the pics. Those parts came with the derailleur unassembled and I'm trying to figure out how to put it together in the correct position. I think the PO actually gave me the wrong pivot spring from another RD from his box of parts as I think it is wound backwards.

Chombi