Jesper
Wore out three sets of tires already!
I am providing what I have learned over the years about the Campagnolo "Record" ('50s-'80s) front derailleur from first-hand experience, anecdotal evidence, and information gleaned from various sources (e.g. Campagnolo catalogs, supplements, etc.). I am primarily trying to sort out the earlier versions of this component since there were many changes during its first 10 to 15 years of manufacture (changed averaging once every 2 years).
I do not necessarily consider this to be the definitive end all discussion regarding this component, but I hope it removes some confusion.
I would certainly appreciate any comments and insight regarding what I will relate; especially any first-hand knowledge regarding what version of this component was mounted as original equipment for a bike of a known year of manufacture. I either have, or have had physical examples of most of the versions of this component; but there are still many gaps to be filled in regarding time frames when certain versions were first being used and when manufacturing ended.
Unfortunately, one can not account for manufacturing anomolies, early release of parts to builders and distributors, printing and copyright dates of publications, use of surplus stock, etc.
Campagnolo introduces the "Record" front derailleur; circa 1956
1st Generation
The 1st generation used 2 slot headed screws to retain the control arms (main body pivot bosses are internally threaded). Control arms are chrome plated bronze. This unit is not found in any catalog; introduced after catalog #13 (c.1955), and before catalog #14 (c.1959) which shows the 2nd gen. unit. It incorporates an integral cable housing stop (here on out referred to as: stop) in the main body without any slot ("closed"). I still have an example of this unit which was removed from a 1959 Atala (verified by serial # date code on bike frame).
2nd Generation
The 2nd gen. unit (pictured in catalog #14 c.1959) is the same as the 1st gen. except it used 2 "plugs"(pins) in place of the retainer screws (main body pivot bosses are smooth bore internally). Control arms are chrome plated bronze. It still has the "closed" stop. I have never seen an example of this unit. I assume it was only made for 1 or 2 years at most.
Commonalities:
1st and 2nd gen. units have bronze arms and "closed" stops.
3rd Generation
The 3rd gen. is the same as 1st and 2nd gen. units, except it has no control arm retaining hardware. The cage spring extension sits in a small groove (it is not circumferential) in the lower pivot boss. There is nothing holding the upper arm from sliding off the upper boss except the mechanical linkages connecting the cage/control arm assembly (main body pivot bosses are solid). Control arms are chrome plated bronze. It has a "closed" stop. I have no clue as to when this version was introduced, but I assume it is between 1960 and before the printing of catalog #15 (c.1967). (There is a photo of this version on Velobase and it refers to it as a 2nd gen. unit. which is incorrect. See 2nd gen. description)
Commonalities:
1st, 2nd, and 3rd gen. units all have chrome plated bronze arms and "closed" stops.
4th Generation
The 4th gen. unit differed from the 3rd gen. unit by having the stop slotted. Catalog #'s 15 (c.1967) & 16 (c.1969) clearly show the slotted stop and solid pivot bosses; the lower boss now having a circumferential groove for the spring extension to sit in. Control arms are chrome plated bronze. There is still no circlip used to retain the upper arm (the circlip retainer first appears in catalog #17 (c.1973)).
The unit pictured in catalog #15 could be a 4th gen. (bronze arms w/slotted stop) or 6th gen. (aluminum arms w/slotted stop). No way to determine what the arms are made of. The version shown in catalog #16 could also be a 4th gen. (bronze arms w/slotted stop), or a 6th gen. (aluminum arms w/slotted stop) unit, but I would assume that the unit shown for catalog #16 is most probably 6th gen. with aluminum arms and slotted stop.(Velobase has 1 photo of what might be this version, but all it shows is the slotted stop and a probable chromed arm, and no other view. It refers to it as a 2nd gen. variant which is incorrect. It is probably a 4th gen. unit if the arms are indeed bronze)
Commonalities:
1st through 4th gen. units all have chrome plated bronze arms and stops ("closed" or slotted).
3rd and 4th gen. units have no arm retainer hardware.
5th Generation
I have another version of a unit that has chrome plated bronze arms, but it has no stop (the unit is original, and was not "custom" modified). It has the same circumferential groove on the lower pivot boss to retain the spring extension as shown in catalog #'s 15 & 16. It is original equipment taken off of a mid '60s ('64-'66) Swiss Allegro bike (Reynolds 531 frame, Nervex Pro lugs, Campagnolo Record rear mech). I am categorizing it as a 5th gen. in that it still has bronze arms (though no stop), unlike the 6th gen. unit with aluminum arms and slotted stop.
Commonalities:
1st through 5th gen. units all have chrome plated bronze arms.
3rd, 4th, and 5th gen. units have no arm retainer hardware.
Note: Unfortunately, and without anecdotal evidence, there is no way to determine exactly when the "Record" front derailleur first utilized aluminum control arms since the part numbers (#778 & #782) for those arms remained identical throughout catalog #'s 14, 15, 16, 17, 17a, and 18. The same arms continued to be used on the c.1977 revised 9th gen. version with different part numbers (7117009, 7117011) in catalog # 17a Sup., and on the 10th and 11th gen. units in the '82 "Olympics" catalog which listed both the old and the new part numbers. Essentially from the first design in the mid '50s to their last use in the mid '80s these arms never changed except from bronze to aluminum, and then to being anodized black for the 11th gen. "Super Record" version.
It stands to reason that the arms were aluminum when the Nuovo Record rear derailleur was introduced c.1966 (catalog #15 c.1967), but I have no evidence to prove it. I have had very late '60s to very early '70s versions where the control arms were aluminum (with slotted stops, and no stop). I cannot be sure when the first use of aluminum arms came into being except to say they were in use at least by 1968.
6th Generation
The 6th gen. unit is the first to use aluminum control arms. It has a slotted stop. Again, it is possible that it was the unit shown in either or both catalog #'s 15 & 16 where the slotted stop was still being pictured.
Commonalities:
3rd through 6th gen. units have no arm retainer hardware.
4th and 6th gen. units have slotted stops.
7th Generation
The 7th gen. unit has aluminum arms, no stop, and no circlip (pre-'73). This unit definitely existed prior to catalog #17 (c.1973). I have multiple examples of this unit; one mounted as OE on a 1972 Raleigh Pro.
Commonalities:
3rd through 7th gen. units no arm retainer hardware.
5th and 7th gen. units have no stops.
6th and 7th gen. units have aluminum arms.
8th Generation
The catalog #17 (c.1973; English edition was copyright 1974) unit with circlip retainer added would make that the 8th gen. unit. It is the first catalog depiction of the main body without a cable stop.
Note: Even though the slotted stop body style was last shown in catalog #16 (c.1969), it must have still been available as an option in the early '70s; possibly due to surplus old stock from Campagnolo and/or bike manufacturers. Anecdotal evidence supports this from owners still having the slotted cable housing stop design being used as original equipment on bikes built in the early '70s. That does not mean that Campagnolo was still manufacturing them during that time since the version without a stop was already being used years before the 1973 "circlip" version shown without a stop.
Commonalities:
5th, 7th, and 8th gen. units have no stops.
6th, 7th, and 8th gen. units have aluminum arms.
9th Generation
The 9th gen. "Record" model was seriously modified (except for those control arms!) with a different cage having 4 holes and slightly different inner cage plate size, narrow clamp band, and a significantly dimished body. The cage also had the lip in the front of the outer plate. *I have weighed this version and it is their lightest at approx. 88g.
(*The 9th gen. unit I have left as an example has an aluminum bolt and nut for the clamp; I assume they are not original since I do not remember ever having them on any other unit.)
Commonalities:
5th, 7th, 8th, and 9th gen. units have no stops.
6th through 9th gen. units have aluminum arms.
8th and 9th gen. units have circlip retaining upper arm.
(?? Generation 9.5 ??)
I have an odd variant that may be a very late version of the 9th gen. unit before being replaced by the 10th gen. 3 hole cage unit. My example has the 4 hole cage, but it does not have the narrow clamp band and small body of a 9th gen. unit. It uses the newer body/clamp band assy found on the 10th gen. 3 hole cage unit. Multiple possibilities exist as to why this unit is different: 1) it could have been repaired using the newer body/clamp assy due to the original assy suffering from the cracking issue; 2) it may have been mistakenly or intentionally assembled that way at the factory due to surplus old stock; 3) it may actually be an "in between" version when the newer body/clamp assy was replacing the initial design. I received it as a loose part and I have no knowledge as to its history. I would be very interested to know if anyone else has a unit of this type.
Commonalities: (Not official if unit was modified !!)
5th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 9.5 gen. units have no stops.
6th through 9.5 gen. units have aluminum arms.
8th, 9th, and 9.5 gen. units have circlip retaining upper arm.
9th and 9.5 gen. units have 4 hole outer cage plates.
9.5, 10th, and 11th gen. units have new revised body/clamp band assy's.
10th Generation
The 10th gen. "Record" unit with 3 cage holes in the '82 catalog which replaced the 4 hole version was modified due to cracking of the main body/clamp band. The 10th gen. body size was "beefier" than the 9th gen. version, but still not nearly as large as the 8th gen. and earlier versions. The clamp band changed to a smooth background around the "CAMPAGNOLO" script (previously "grainy" background), and looked similar to the early style clamp band with "points", but was somewhat diminutive in size comparatively.
The 4 hole cage supposedly had issues with the chain hanging up during shifting, thus the change to 3 holes. I never had that issue, and with newer chains having less pin protusion I would think that the problem would be gone. It might be due to the manner in which it was set up on the bike. Its odd that many other manufacturers (e.g. Huret, Shimano, Sun Tour, Simplex, et al.) had many derailleurs with loads of holes, slots, etc. in their cages years before Campy decided to "copy" them, but I have never had or heard about issues with their designs.
Commonalities:
5th, 7th, and 8th, 9th, and 10 gen. units have no stops.
6th through 10th gen. units have aluminum arms.
8th, 9th, and 10th gen. units have circlip retaining upper arm.
10th, and 11th gen. units have new revised body/clamp band assys.
Note: The 3 hole cage (c.1981) and 4 hole cage (c.1977) versions were never designated as "Super Record" or "Nuovo Record"; only as "Record". The "Gran Sport" version (no cage holes) is regularly incorrectly called "Nuovo Record" or "Record" by sellers, and the 3 and 4 hole versions are regularly called "Nuovo Record" and "Super Record" by sellers.
11th Generation
The 11th gen. "Super Record" version (c.1981) is identical to the 3 hole cage 10th gen. "Record" version except for the black anodized control arms. I would tend to categorize it as an 10th gen. variant, as opposed to an 11th gen. unit since there were no physical changes, only aesthetic.
It does NOT have any titanium parts.
Commonalities:
5th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th gen. units have no stops.
6th through 11th gen. units have aluminum arms.
8th through 11th gen. units have circlip retaining upper arm.
10th and 11th gen. units have 3 hole outer cage plates
Note: I need to verify this, but I believe the limit adjust screws and springs on the '78 and later "Record", and "Super Record" units were chromed.
I believe, but need to verify, that the size of the cage's inner plate changed (smaller/larger?) slightly when the lip was added to the outer plate. I am not sure if this had anything to do with the change in the crankset design or just for performance in shifting. There was some geometry spacing change due to the lip being added and potentially chafing the crank, so the groupset's BB spindle length got modified, as well as crank profile during the late '70s.
Also, note that all the different versions of this unit were always listed as "Record" regardless of their use in the "Record" ('50s-'60s), "Gran Sport" ('70s: as an alternate component), "Nuovo Record" ('70s-'80s), or "Super Record" ('70s) groupsets. The first "Super Record" designated unit appeared in the '82 catalog. The 4 hole cage unit was never designated as "Super Record".
I hope that I have sufficiently covered this component through its first 30 years or so. I am certain that I have missed and overlooked many things. Any mistakes made are my I own regardless if they were sourced from outside, or of my own first-hand experience.
I would hope that this can provide some guidance, but again, please provide whatever corrections/revisions/additions/photos, etc. that need to be made.
I will try to follow up with some photos if possible. I know there are examples of most of the versions on Velobase; but as I have found the listings are not always accurate as to dating and identification of a specific generation, nor are the photos always ample enough to show specific details.
Please excuse any typing and grammatical errors. My eyes, hands, and mind are not what they once were!
I do not necessarily consider this to be the definitive end all discussion regarding this component, but I hope it removes some confusion.
I would certainly appreciate any comments and insight regarding what I will relate; especially any first-hand knowledge regarding what version of this component was mounted as original equipment for a bike of a known year of manufacture. I either have, or have had physical examples of most of the versions of this component; but there are still many gaps to be filled in regarding time frames when certain versions were first being used and when manufacturing ended.
Unfortunately, one can not account for manufacturing anomolies, early release of parts to builders and distributors, printing and copyright dates of publications, use of surplus stock, etc.
Campagnolo introduces the "Record" front derailleur; circa 1956
1st Generation
The 1st generation used 2 slot headed screws to retain the control arms (main body pivot bosses are internally threaded). Control arms are chrome plated bronze. This unit is not found in any catalog; introduced after catalog #13 (c.1955), and before catalog #14 (c.1959) which shows the 2nd gen. unit. It incorporates an integral cable housing stop (here on out referred to as: stop) in the main body without any slot ("closed"). I still have an example of this unit which was removed from a 1959 Atala (verified by serial # date code on bike frame).
2nd Generation
The 2nd gen. unit (pictured in catalog #14 c.1959) is the same as the 1st gen. except it used 2 "plugs"(pins) in place of the retainer screws (main body pivot bosses are smooth bore internally). Control arms are chrome plated bronze. It still has the "closed" stop. I have never seen an example of this unit. I assume it was only made for 1 or 2 years at most.
Commonalities:
1st and 2nd gen. units have bronze arms and "closed" stops.
3rd Generation
The 3rd gen. is the same as 1st and 2nd gen. units, except it has no control arm retaining hardware. The cage spring extension sits in a small groove (it is not circumferential) in the lower pivot boss. There is nothing holding the upper arm from sliding off the upper boss except the mechanical linkages connecting the cage/control arm assembly (main body pivot bosses are solid). Control arms are chrome plated bronze. It has a "closed" stop. I have no clue as to when this version was introduced, but I assume it is between 1960 and before the printing of catalog #15 (c.1967). (There is a photo of this version on Velobase and it refers to it as a 2nd gen. unit. which is incorrect. See 2nd gen. description)
Commonalities:
1st, 2nd, and 3rd gen. units all have chrome plated bronze arms and "closed" stops.
4th Generation
The 4th gen. unit differed from the 3rd gen. unit by having the stop slotted. Catalog #'s 15 (c.1967) & 16 (c.1969) clearly show the slotted stop and solid pivot bosses; the lower boss now having a circumferential groove for the spring extension to sit in. Control arms are chrome plated bronze. There is still no circlip used to retain the upper arm (the circlip retainer first appears in catalog #17 (c.1973)).
The unit pictured in catalog #15 could be a 4th gen. (bronze arms w/slotted stop) or 6th gen. (aluminum arms w/slotted stop). No way to determine what the arms are made of. The version shown in catalog #16 could also be a 4th gen. (bronze arms w/slotted stop), or a 6th gen. (aluminum arms w/slotted stop) unit, but I would assume that the unit shown for catalog #16 is most probably 6th gen. with aluminum arms and slotted stop.(Velobase has 1 photo of what might be this version, but all it shows is the slotted stop and a probable chromed arm, and no other view. It refers to it as a 2nd gen. variant which is incorrect. It is probably a 4th gen. unit if the arms are indeed bronze)
Commonalities:
1st through 4th gen. units all have chrome plated bronze arms and stops ("closed" or slotted).
3rd and 4th gen. units have no arm retainer hardware.
5th Generation
I have another version of a unit that has chrome plated bronze arms, but it has no stop (the unit is original, and was not "custom" modified). It has the same circumferential groove on the lower pivot boss to retain the spring extension as shown in catalog #'s 15 & 16. It is original equipment taken off of a mid '60s ('64-'66) Swiss Allegro bike (Reynolds 531 frame, Nervex Pro lugs, Campagnolo Record rear mech). I am categorizing it as a 5th gen. in that it still has bronze arms (though no stop), unlike the 6th gen. unit with aluminum arms and slotted stop.
Commonalities:
1st through 5th gen. units all have chrome plated bronze arms.
3rd, 4th, and 5th gen. units have no arm retainer hardware.
Note: Unfortunately, and without anecdotal evidence, there is no way to determine exactly when the "Record" front derailleur first utilized aluminum control arms since the part numbers (#778 & #782) for those arms remained identical throughout catalog #'s 14, 15, 16, 17, 17a, and 18. The same arms continued to be used on the c.1977 revised 9th gen. version with different part numbers (7117009, 7117011) in catalog # 17a Sup., and on the 10th and 11th gen. units in the '82 "Olympics" catalog which listed both the old and the new part numbers. Essentially from the first design in the mid '50s to their last use in the mid '80s these arms never changed except from bronze to aluminum, and then to being anodized black for the 11th gen. "Super Record" version.
It stands to reason that the arms were aluminum when the Nuovo Record rear derailleur was introduced c.1966 (catalog #15 c.1967), but I have no evidence to prove it. I have had very late '60s to very early '70s versions where the control arms were aluminum (with slotted stops, and no stop). I cannot be sure when the first use of aluminum arms came into being except to say they were in use at least by 1968.
6th Generation
The 6th gen. unit is the first to use aluminum control arms. It has a slotted stop. Again, it is possible that it was the unit shown in either or both catalog #'s 15 & 16 where the slotted stop was still being pictured.
Commonalities:
3rd through 6th gen. units have no arm retainer hardware.
4th and 6th gen. units have slotted stops.
7th Generation
The 7th gen. unit has aluminum arms, no stop, and no circlip (pre-'73). This unit definitely existed prior to catalog #17 (c.1973). I have multiple examples of this unit; one mounted as OE on a 1972 Raleigh Pro.
Commonalities:
3rd through 7th gen. units no arm retainer hardware.
5th and 7th gen. units have no stops.
6th and 7th gen. units have aluminum arms.
8th Generation
The catalog #17 (c.1973; English edition was copyright 1974) unit with circlip retainer added would make that the 8th gen. unit. It is the first catalog depiction of the main body without a cable stop.
Note: Even though the slotted stop body style was last shown in catalog #16 (c.1969), it must have still been available as an option in the early '70s; possibly due to surplus old stock from Campagnolo and/or bike manufacturers. Anecdotal evidence supports this from owners still having the slotted cable housing stop design being used as original equipment on bikes built in the early '70s. That does not mean that Campagnolo was still manufacturing them during that time since the version without a stop was already being used years before the 1973 "circlip" version shown without a stop.
Commonalities:
5th, 7th, and 8th gen. units have no stops.
6th, 7th, and 8th gen. units have aluminum arms.
9th Generation
The 9th gen. "Record" model was seriously modified (except for those control arms!) with a different cage having 4 holes and slightly different inner cage plate size, narrow clamp band, and a significantly dimished body. The cage also had the lip in the front of the outer plate. *I have weighed this version and it is their lightest at approx. 88g.
(*The 9th gen. unit I have left as an example has an aluminum bolt and nut for the clamp; I assume they are not original since I do not remember ever having them on any other unit.)
Commonalities:
5th, 7th, 8th, and 9th gen. units have no stops.
6th through 9th gen. units have aluminum arms.
8th and 9th gen. units have circlip retaining upper arm.
(?? Generation 9.5 ??)
I have an odd variant that may be a very late version of the 9th gen. unit before being replaced by the 10th gen. 3 hole cage unit. My example has the 4 hole cage, but it does not have the narrow clamp band and small body of a 9th gen. unit. It uses the newer body/clamp band assy found on the 10th gen. 3 hole cage unit. Multiple possibilities exist as to why this unit is different: 1) it could have been repaired using the newer body/clamp assy due to the original assy suffering from the cracking issue; 2) it may have been mistakenly or intentionally assembled that way at the factory due to surplus old stock; 3) it may actually be an "in between" version when the newer body/clamp assy was replacing the initial design. I received it as a loose part and I have no knowledge as to its history. I would be very interested to know if anyone else has a unit of this type.
Commonalities: (Not official if unit was modified !!)
5th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 9.5 gen. units have no stops.
6th through 9.5 gen. units have aluminum arms.
8th, 9th, and 9.5 gen. units have circlip retaining upper arm.
9th and 9.5 gen. units have 4 hole outer cage plates.
9.5, 10th, and 11th gen. units have new revised body/clamp band assy's.
10th Generation
The 10th gen. "Record" unit with 3 cage holes in the '82 catalog which replaced the 4 hole version was modified due to cracking of the main body/clamp band. The 10th gen. body size was "beefier" than the 9th gen. version, but still not nearly as large as the 8th gen. and earlier versions. The clamp band changed to a smooth background around the "CAMPAGNOLO" script (previously "grainy" background), and looked similar to the early style clamp band with "points", but was somewhat diminutive in size comparatively.
The 4 hole cage supposedly had issues with the chain hanging up during shifting, thus the change to 3 holes. I never had that issue, and with newer chains having less pin protusion I would think that the problem would be gone. It might be due to the manner in which it was set up on the bike. Its odd that many other manufacturers (e.g. Huret, Shimano, Sun Tour, Simplex, et al.) had many derailleurs with loads of holes, slots, etc. in their cages years before Campy decided to "copy" them, but I have never had or heard about issues with their designs.
Commonalities:
5th, 7th, and 8th, 9th, and 10 gen. units have no stops.
6th through 10th gen. units have aluminum arms.
8th, 9th, and 10th gen. units have circlip retaining upper arm.
10th, and 11th gen. units have new revised body/clamp band assys.
Note: The 3 hole cage (c.1981) and 4 hole cage (c.1977) versions were never designated as "Super Record" or "Nuovo Record"; only as "Record". The "Gran Sport" version (no cage holes) is regularly incorrectly called "Nuovo Record" or "Record" by sellers, and the 3 and 4 hole versions are regularly called "Nuovo Record" and "Super Record" by sellers.
11th Generation
The 11th gen. "Super Record" version (c.1981) is identical to the 3 hole cage 10th gen. "Record" version except for the black anodized control arms. I would tend to categorize it as an 10th gen. variant, as opposed to an 11th gen. unit since there were no physical changes, only aesthetic.
It does NOT have any titanium parts.
Commonalities:
5th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th gen. units have no stops.
6th through 11th gen. units have aluminum arms.
8th through 11th gen. units have circlip retaining upper arm.
10th and 11th gen. units have 3 hole outer cage plates
Note: I need to verify this, but I believe the limit adjust screws and springs on the '78 and later "Record", and "Super Record" units were chromed.
I believe, but need to verify, that the size of the cage's inner plate changed (smaller/larger?) slightly when the lip was added to the outer plate. I am not sure if this had anything to do with the change in the crankset design or just for performance in shifting. There was some geometry spacing change due to the lip being added and potentially chafing the crank, so the groupset's BB spindle length got modified, as well as crank profile during the late '70s.
Also, note that all the different versions of this unit were always listed as "Record" regardless of their use in the "Record" ('50s-'60s), "Gran Sport" ('70s: as an alternate component), "Nuovo Record" ('70s-'80s), or "Super Record" ('70s) groupsets. The first "Super Record" designated unit appeared in the '82 catalog. The 4 hole cage unit was never designated as "Super Record".
I hope that I have sufficiently covered this component through its first 30 years or so. I am certain that I have missed and overlooked many things. Any mistakes made are my I own regardless if they were sourced from outside, or of my own first-hand experience.
I would hope that this can provide some guidance, but again, please provide whatever corrections/revisions/additions/photos, etc. that need to be made.
I will try to follow up with some photos if possible. I know there are examples of most of the versions on Velobase; but as I have found the listings are not always accurate as to dating and identification of a specific generation, nor are the photos always ample enough to show specific details.
Please excuse any typing and grammatical errors. My eyes, hands, and mind are not what they once were!
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