This
is an unidentified B-17 from the Czech Republic, below is a copy
of the owner's email. Our best guess is that is a Brooks Sprinter
"Hello,
I'm sending to you snaps of my Brooks saddle (on prompt on http://www.brooksarchives.info/).
I have found it (mouldy, wet - bad repair) in my father's
workshop. I suppose, that it's the Brooks B17 Champion Sprinter
and it could be about 30-35 year old (my father wasn't first owner).
But unfortunately during the long-time using
was most of letters rubbed off from the leather and now
there is visible only writing "BROOKS", so I'm not quite sure about
the model.
I haven't got an original Brooks Proofide Dressing in any Czech bike-shop
(they sells it only in couple with a saddle :-/). So I have left it penetrate
by edible oil :-) and by any kind of leather grease and now is
a perfect - like new one. It's older then me (27) and still great.
I would be pleased, if you should identify real model and year
of the manufacture.
Have a nice day,
Jan
Liska, Pilsen, Czech Rep."
_______________________________________________
10/28/08: Brooks expert Tony Colegrave writes:
"The saddle illustrated in your Museum of Pictures, from Jan Liska, is definately a B.17 Champion Sprinter. It's the last version that Brooks made (if you discount those ti-framed pastiches currently on the market) and would date from no earlier than the late 'fifties; it's quite probable that the cantle-plate will have a date-stamp, as date-stamping was introduced in 1959 - just after Brooks was acquired by Raleigh."
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