Kommisar89

There are two parts I'm wondering about: the 603 Cover Plate and the 610 Record twin control clip. I've seen and currently have in my posession clamp-on shifters that appear to have two different finishes. On one both the clamp-on band itself (610) and the cover plates (603) are chrome plated. On the other, those parts are a sort of dull grey metal. What I'm wondering whether that actually represent to different finishes, posibly from different gruppos or just normal wear on the dull one that makes it look different?

Otis

I think the bright chrome ones are Gran Sport or Record and the dull tin looking ones were Valentino or the later crappy Gran Sport.

They are definitely different finishes, not just oxidised chrome ones. I just dug through a few drawers of these trying to get a couple of chrome style ones for the bikes I'm working on. Sadly have tons of the el-cheapo ones. Could not find any bright ones with the black cable guides that would be right for a 50's or early 60's bike.

Kommisar89

Exactly! The one I have with the black cable guides is the dull tin looking finish while my later one is chrome. It's strange because the catalogs seem to show that Valentino and later Gran Sport use a totally different style of clamp-band but I've had a few of these over the years that look exactly like the Records ones except for the finish and screws instead of D-rings.

Otis

There is a cheesy-er version as well that uses "straps" to form the cable guides and align the levers. This is what you are probably seeing in the catalog.

But all the black guide/"tin" band ones I have always came off low end Bianchi's or "boom" Italian bikes. usually with screws or knobs instead of d-rings.

cudak888 

The early '60s Gran Sport were nearly identical to Record/NR with exception to a slightly larger logo, and black inner plates, as opposed to chrome. Hard to tell them apart without the two side-by-side for comparison.

-Kurt