Hello Lenton,

So near and yet so far! We must meet up some time.

Very interesting about Kamata and worth schlepping over there just to have a look. I reckon it would be a 30 to 40 minute ride over there. Back in 1981 I used to live in Edogawabashi, which was just such a community but with small, family-run printing workshops all around.

What you say about the races etc. being made from material the same hardness throughout is possibly right, to my completely unqualified and lacking-in-knowledge eye. However, I really don't trust my hand with a Dremel (which I have) and fear making them even worse than they already are. But thanks!

No, I think the best hope for my level of expertise is in using a power drill and some sort of grinding compound in the assembled pedal. If that doesn't work, I shall gracefully accept defeat. I have a pair of Campagnolo Superleggeri pedals that i can modify to take my wide feet if need be. With the black taken off they would resemble 1950s Campagnolo Record pedals... I think.