Originally Posted by
gster
When Tube Investments took over Raleigh in 1960 they were determined to cut costs and raise profits. A savings of 50 cents per unit x a million units adds up quickly. The elimination of the heron's eye on the chain ring being a prime example. Loose bearings vs. caged and so on....
True. My cracked piston award goes to Sturmey Archer when, by 1973, they decided to eliminate the little steel nut on the cable pulley band and make the band a bit longer, fold it over on itself and tap a hole in the thin, soft band material for the cheap, barely plated screw. The older ones were a classy bit of manufacturing. Sturdy two piece clip together band, deep headed machine screw, semi domed flatted nut and steel wheel all with a gun barrel blue or zinc finish. The 60s plastic wheeled units may not have been as nice, but at least they worked. Yup...I've got a right to rant. I had one slide down the seat tube and scratch the paint and wreck the 20 30 sticker.