Hi Walt.
Did anyone ever get back to you on the Universal Extra brake dating question?
The picture on the cover of my Universal Extra 100/100 (2x short reach) box
(my photoalbums:
http://albums.photopoint.com/
The picture on the cover of Dales Univ Super 68 box (CR website:
http://cyclesdeoro.com/
The steel calipers on my Legnano don't have the qr arrangement, and thus don't have any brev #s.
I have three sets (2 sets short/long, and 1 set short/short from the above box) which read: UNIVERSAL EXTRA + BREV.453949 on the caliper arms, and BREV 453949 on the qr arm. All three sets were NOS, so I can't assocoate them with any particluar date, but the Short/short set came with white rubber rings (explained below).
The set on my 1960 Atala have larger silver & blue washer behind the acorn nuts, and no lettering on the qr arms. Otherwise they are identical. Perhaps these are a later version, about the time of introduction of "61" centerpulls, which may have required larger washers.
One way dating these brakes might be found on the levers... late 50s brakes had a fragile white rubber ring around the adjusting barrel, which was replaced with gum rubber nipple, and later levers had a tougher black rubber nipple. Most of the replacement hoods I've seen have the black rubber nipple.
We might assume calipers with Brev #s on the qr arm are earlier than those without, but I haven't found any other major differences.
Hope this helps. I'll add pictures of the white rubber ring to my photo albums next week.
Regards,
Aldo "37F and cloudy in Ohio" Ross
> This may seem simple to some of the older members of the group but I have
a
> question!
>
> What is the easiest way to date Universal Extra Brakes?
> I have a set that have the quick release flip on them. Can the number on
the
> calipers themselves help date them? my numbers are stamped in blue and say
> 453949 is this helps. The levers themselves have no striking
characteristics
> other than badly crumbling hoods. Thanks in advance.
>
> Walt Skrzypek
> Falls Creek, Pa