Pino International, Ltd. (Pino Morroni) curved handle quick release mechanisms - first edition marked "PINO INT’ LTD. DETROIT" on their end caps - aluminum alloy end caps and knurled adjusters with nylon screw fittings - titanium skewer rods - 100 mm spacing (front) / 126 to 130 mm spacing (rear) ... [USED - in truly exceptional condition with only minor evidence of use - very light scratching at both ends, but I have NEVER "laid them over" - the springs, are replacement bits for long lost originals (...but absolutely NO ONE is going to know once they have been properly mounted onto your favorite retro ride) - these oft sought and fairly uncommon QRs debuted in to the general cycling populace back in 1975 and were commercially available in strictly limited numbers until roughly the mid 1980’s - however, other innovative products from fertile mind of Pino Moronni had previously graced some of the finest competition bicycles of that era as ridden by such period standouts as Mike Neel (...three U.S. National Championships and the first U.S. rider to successfully compete as a professional in the European peloton), Wayne Stetina (...U.S. Olympic team member 1972, 1976, 1980, and ten times U.S. National Cycling Champion), and the incomparable Eddy Merckx (...an astounding 525 career victories as a professional, one Amateur World Championship, three professional World Championships, and eleven Grand Tour victories including five Tour de France wins), whose 1973 world-hour-record breaking Colnago incorporated several of Pino Moronni’s hand crafted components - it might also be worth pointing out that Pino’s unusual quick release mechanisms would appear to have been used as a basis for the earliest version of American Classic skewers which were introduced to market in 1983 - the primary differences between the American Classic and its Pino predecessor being the QR handle lever which is more rounded and simplistic in design than the original configuration and the fact that the actual axle rod was of standard steel composition and not titanium - both of these being practical concessions with respect to the higher volume production / lower cost basis sought by American Classic. My guess (...as in this is wonton speculation on my part, but I would like to think that it is at least carefully considered speculation) is that Pino in effect licensed the design to Bill Shook of American Classic on some sort of quid pro quo basis given that the two had already established a codified business relationship wherein Bill was supplying the unique built-to-specification ferrules and spokes that Pino was using to produce his own "triple nut" wheelsets during this same time frame]
