I imagine, like the leather bands, the tropic ones fell apart and were replaced. Shoot, we are lucky to find a Zodiac with the metal band if it was worn for 30 years. I would expect the model number to be different on the one with a rubber band for filling orders.
As I said in another thread, the 71 cat is a real Zodiac cat and printed in Switzerland and not one from North America and Trauner. Notice that it, unlike the others, does not have the Trauner name and address on it. BTW, I know a guy in Spain who has a lot of Zodiac literature in Spanish and is scanning them for me. These should be real Zodiac and not Trauner. He has 2 catalogs that we do not have, so the pictures of the watches will be great to explore. In a couple more months we will have a lot more to add to ZodiacCatalogs.com I hope.
As for you being the only one interested in the bands, far from it! I love it when I find one on a band. But if it is not then leather works, (not a big rubber, NATO, or kortz GMT kinda guy

) and I will not spend a fortune on a metal band by itself. But hey, I drive American and he drives Japanese, right? I thank you for bringing up your thoughts on the Chinese Kreislers. You made me think about it when I had always discounted them. Even Omega and Rolex rarely last 30-40 years, so no surprise the Zodiac bands are not on our watches.
Thanks for the participation Zaniac. I assure you I don't know it all and I am always learning something new about Zodiacs.