I don't know how characteristic that is in 1950's frames but front and rear brake reach differences are not uncommon. A number of bikes in the '70's used Weinmann 610(front)/750(rear) brake caliper combinations.
Charlie Young
Honeybrook, PA
> Hello,
>
> i own a Girardengo frame from the early fifties (possibly
> 1951).
> unfortunately none of the original parts have survived.
> when i tried to fit SR brakes to the bike i noticed that
> while the "long reach" 57mm front brake fitted nicely, its
> rear counterpart was too short - the frame requires
> obviously a rear brake with longer reach, about 65mm.
> question: was it common in that period to have different
> brake reach? fork looks authentic to me - the bicycle had
> the original paint on it when i got it.
>
> thanks in advance,
> Martin Appel
> Munich, Germany
>
> _______________________________________________
>
Charlie Young
Honeybrook, PA