I have one of the original Speedball posts that finally gave up the ghost recently. No surprise and no problem – I'll get it sorted – or so I thought.
The Crank Bros importers no longer service them due to "parts incompatibility" and there is no longer a Maverick importer into the UK.
Trying Maverick in the US, they no longer support the post either – something about when the company was sold, the patent was sold onto Crank Bros.
So I gave in, and bought a new Joplin from Evans tonight. Trying to fit it, I discovered that the clamps are already knackered and won't tighten around the saddle rails. From the look of them, it looks as if a saddle may already have been fitted, but that's a debate to have with Evans on Monday.
Anyway – rant over. I feel better now!