Ultraorange

So I've been shopping for a c record crank and found one at a great price. Get it in the mail and it was a weird date code.

Here are the stats, they are 170mm standard thread for the pedals with the non etched logo and the date code is A1 in a square(drive side) and A2 in a square on the other. So I know it's not a matching set but I'm ok with that. But I am curious when they were made. Been looking all over including velobase.

gaucho777 

Hmmm, not sure what to make of the A1/A2 date code. I started a thread a while ago about Campagnolo crank arm date codes (LINK) and I see you already posted a comment at the end of that thread. The thread contains lots of variations on the date codes, but nothing with "A" or other letters--only two-digit numbers in squares, circles, and diamonds. There's also the note at the bottom of Velo-retro's Campagnolo timeline, but again no mention of lettered date codes. Velo-retro timeline says square date code was used from 1985-1989, but C-record continued into the early 90s. Just speculation, but I wonder if A could denote 90s, hence '91 and '92 for your cranks? I'm interested what others may be be able to add. Pics?

RRAlategoer

Hmmm, not sure what to make of the A1/A2 date code. I started a thread a while ago about Campagnolo crank arm date codes and I see you already posted a comment at the end of that thread. The thread contains lots of variations on the date codes, but nothing with "A" or other letters--only two-digit numbers in squares, circles, and diamonds. There's also the note at the bottom of Retro-Velo's timeline, but again no mention of lettered date codes. Velo-retro timeline says square date code was used from 1985-1989, but C-record continued into the early 90s. Just speculation, but I wonder if A could denote 90s, hence '91 and '92 for your cranks? I'm interested what others may be be able to add.
My 2 penn' worth:
I'm looking at some Chorus RS cranks, they have A2 in a rectangle too. I have seen A1, A2, and A3 on these, and C Record do too (I think I may have seen A4 and A5 in the past, but cannot be certain of that) I think that you are correct in saying this represents 91, 92, 93 as these would be after the VeloRetro date codes quoted, above.
I know some references to stamps 93 and 94 in rectangles also exist in a discussion on CDA vs Chorus RS crank dating elsewhere, so the water is still muddy!
Oh for some definitive clarity from an 'authority'!
Regards,
Robin.

Spaghetti Legs 

You sure it's not 41 and 42?

Off the top of my head I think that's the code for '85 and '86

Edit: OK, just realized I replied to a 6 year old thread. Also 11 is the code on my 1st gen C Record (1985) and 42 is on my 2nd gen C Record.

Carry on!

RRAlategoer

Opening this up a little to other Campagnolo Crank models.
Looking around at advert photos, similar era cranks but different models seem to have different date code formats, all in rectangles. 9x, Ax, 4x, where x= a number. Oh and yes, I was ahead of you there, spaghetti man, and I have been very careful to make sure not to mistake 4's and A's for each other in the photos viewed.
Just a surmise, but does it seem likely that different Crank model production lines used different style concurrent date codes when manufactured alongside each other?
Athena, CDA, Chorus, C-Record,
I say 'alongside', but maybe different production facilities, i.e. factory, or even same model of crank produced at different factories so using their own version of date code in this short era.
If anyone has any knowledge here, it would be very useful.
Regards to all,
Robin.

SurferRosa

Yeah, your edited version of off the top of your head is correct.

41 is 1988.

​​​​​​​That was a pretty good year for new album releases.

RRAlategoer

1988?
now 1970 was great for albums,
but I can't remember all that much of the detail!