RE: [CR]Mafac brake boosters and brazed on bosses

(Example: Events:Cirque du Cyclisme:2004)

From: "Mark Bulgier" <mark@bulgier.net>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: RE: [CR]Mafac brake boosters and brazed on bosses
Date: Fri, 15 Mar 2002 00:01:40 -0800


Phil Brown wrote:
>
> Brian Baylis' green curved stay bike has brazed on Campy
> bolts and Sheldon has made a bike like that as well. My French
> bike has Mafacs with brazed on pivots and THEY DON'T SQUEEL.

In maybe '77-'78 I made a frame with what looked at first glance to be brazed-on Campy sidepulls - but in fact it was far sicker than that.

http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/CoolBikes/Ben_Dover/BD2_BrakeBridge.jpg

If you look at that pic, you can see how the base was brazed on, then an aluminum barrel went on over that. The AL piece has the groove for the spring, and is held to the brazed-on base by two tiny screws that go through slots in the Al and thread into the steel - allowing centering adjustment. The center pivot of the brake is a heat-treated "aircraft" bolt that threads into the brazed-on base on the frame, so it isn't weakened by the heat of brazing, and it's easily replaceable.

That wasn't the only goofy thing about the frame - look at how the front derailleur was attached: http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/CoolBikes/Ben_Dover/BD2_F_Der.jpg (That's a Williams alloy cotterless crank, the one with the splined axle!)

And the lack of a seatpost - the seat tube goes right on through the lug and right up to the seat rail clamping hardware. http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/CoolBikes/Ben_Dover/BD2_seatpost.jpg Note, the height *can* be adjusted (though not easily), by shimming or replacing the fulcrum piece the seat rail clamps rest on. Those are Weyless post parts - remember them?

Goofy, yes, but gimme a break, I was 21 years old and it was my second frame ever. "Ben Dover" was the name I put on the downtube and headtube, and the serial number of this one is BD2. It had Art Stump dropouts (still does I hope), and I sure wish I hadn't sold it.

Mark Bulgier
Seattle, Wa
USA