I'm wondering if the copper plating might make the rails more brittle?
It's not the first breakage of that type that I've had. I would guess that saddles rarely have to put up with the kind of mass that I'm plonking on them.
I had an email back from Brooks offering to mend my saddle for £40. By the time I've posted it to them, that will be quite a bit more. On the Flyer, and, I think, the B66, the rails consist of a single piece of metal which can be removed just by undoing 3 bolts. if they sent me one such I could do the job myself. I will reply to the guy and ask him if they are prepared to send me the part.
I'm not impressed with that response, and I'm not impressed with the 10-year "guarantee" that depends upon the customer knowing it's there and having to jump through hoops in order to activate it. Either guarantee a product or don't, but don't bugger about with silly games.
On the strength of that, I've ordered a Fizik Aliante R3 "Big Arse" from Merlin Cycles. Thanks, all.