Originally Posted by
DiegoFrogs
I would think that CroMo in lower end bicycles in the late '70s and '80s is probably related to its low cost, high quality production in Japan at the time.
+1, back then the Japanese makers (BTW, you could get an "American Eagle" AKA Nishiki about then with the same un-named chrome-moly tubing for even less than a Fuji) were in competition to establish market share against the European marques, and offering "quality" tubing to a quality-conscious public was smart. Later on Tange was offered in a #5 tubeset which was heavy, plain-gauge tubing, but at even a lower pricepoint.
Funny that way back in 1931 A&P were hard at work educating the public as to the quality of their Kromo tubing, and how to pronounce "molybdenum"! Great scans, thanks to Scooper!!