Shimano alloy seatposts - anyone know who made 'em?

[54ny77]

I have a NOS Ultegra and Dura Ace alloy seatpost, they're among the jewels of my parts hoarding collection...

Am curious who made 'em. The Ultegra post has a gorgeous polish and satin finish very similar to Nitto Pearl stems. The DA is a bit more shiny/polished.

Wondered if anyone knows who made the posts for Shimano, if not by Shimano themselves.

[dancinkozmo]

ive got a dura ace with an easton logo. if i were the betting sort i'd guess nitto made them

[54ny77]

yep that's what i have also.

i have a vintage italian bike on which i have a nitto pearl stem and am considering putting on ultegra post. yeah, sacrilege.... but the finish is a perfect match. it's either that or pick up a crystal fellow post.

Originally Posted by dancinkozmo

ive got a dura ace with an easton logo. if i were the betting sort i'd guess nitto made them

[eddief]

bike porn.

[Spaghetti Legs]

On a somewhat related note, I am a huge Campaphile but that Dura Ace post weighs slightly less than a Record Ti post - 195g vs 205g if I remember right.

[oliver1850]

I would have guessed that Shimano bought the tubing from Easton but cast the head themselves and assembled and finished the post.

I have a couple of NOS Ultegras stashed, 6600 I think. I use cheap Kalloys on my builds, can't force myself to scratch something as pretty as these posts.

[BdaGhisallo]

Originally Posted by oliver1850

I would have guessed that Shimano bought the tubing from Easton but cast the head themselves and assembled and finished the post.

I have a couple of NOS Ultegras stashed, 6600 I think. I use cheap Kalloys on my builds, can't force myself to scratch something as pretty as these posts.

I think you're right. Shimano's traditional expertise is in the forging of aluminum. Look at how they've stuck with aluminum for some components that others have long since used carbon for, like cranksets, because they have the skill to do with aluminum what others cannot. I would imagine that crafting that post cradle hardware would have been child's play for them.

[marciero]

Originally Posted by oliver1850

I would have guessed that Shimano bought the tubing from Easton but cast the head themselves and assembled and finished the post.

I have a couple of NOS Ultegras stashed, 6600 I think. I use cheap Kalloys on my builds, can't force myself to scratch something as pretty as these posts.

I have one of these-the Ultegra- that I bought from a paceliner new in original packing about a year and a half ago. I just put in on a new build. IMO these are nicer than the DA (I have one of those too, but a well worn one) as they are one-piece design. Am determined not to mount saddlebags or anything that can rub.

I think I recall years ago on Peter White site saying they were made by Nitto but not sure.

If you ever want to sell one of those...

[m_sasso]

I have a NOS SP-R600 Black Ultegra post, however it is different in that it is one piece and does not have a bonded head.

[mtechnica]

There was a period of maybe a year, probably 6-7 years ago (?) when someone was selling NOS SP-6600 on ebay for something like $30. I bought several of them and am still using two. Should have kept the others I bought.

[54ny77]

the prices for the nos stuff is getting frothy. 500 bucks for a 50th anniversary nos post. ouch.

if i could get that for my nos dura ace post, i'd probably sell it.

i just bought a nitto crystal fellow for around 60 bucks and it's a beautiful post also.

Originally Posted by mtechnica

There was a period of maybe a year, probably 6-7 years ago (?) when someone was selling NOS SP-6600 on ebay for something like $30. I bought several of them and am still using two. Should have kept the others I bought.

[dancinkozmo]

cant go wrong with nitto anything