Avocet saddles go back to the 1977 model year. At the time, their lightest model was the Racing III, with aluminum rails and a claimed weight of 235g. However, the initial offering included 8 models, so there was substantial variation. As noted, Avocet and Palo Alto shared a common owner but were separate entities, presumably for legal and financial purposes.


Vetta was a Swiss company that started out with bicycles racks, then expanded into other accessories such as wind trainers, chain cleaners, computers, helmets and saddles. The saddles date back to at least 1983. Like Avocet they offered a variety of saddles. An early American adopter was Western States Imports, owner of the Centurion brand, who spec'd them on their 1984 mid-range models.


I'm not surprised at the weight variation, as it's a function of the intended market, driven by the intended use and price. Like many other members, I select my saddles based on comfort. My preference is the Cinelli Unicanitor, though that may be largely a case of acclimation, as it was my 2nd "good" racing saddle and I rode it constantly for 6 six years before experimenting with others. Despite numerous dalliances, I routinely return to the Unicanitor. Consequently, whenever I find one in good condition, at a reasonable price, I pick it up.