Tom Hayes wrote:
>
>> I am not about to look a gift-horse in the mouth, but I really would like to know what's up with this auction? Other than the red dot on the levers, I do not find these Weinmann brakes different than others.
>>
>> http://ebay.com/
>>
>> But as I said, I am not checking out the horse's teeth, only asking what makes these special over and above other more common Weinmann brakes?
>
>
To which Chuck Schmidt responded:
The answer is always the same Tom. Anything that goes for more money than you think it should (or would) is something that the Japanese collectors like. The Japanese collectors like the version with the red anodized QR mechanism on the levers.
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I have a pair of these on a '65 Paramount, and I'd like to flesh out Chuck's comments a bit. First, I think these are about the most elegant QRs on any classic lever. None of the trickery of the later "dive=under" design, which required taking the tension off just a bit by pulling the lever just a bit. Just push the button and the lever is in released mode. The Urban Legend of the era was that this Weinmann design was found to infringe a GB patent, and that they discontinued it just about the time GB exited the business. I have no substanatiation, but always loved the irony almost as much as the levers. I once had a second pair but gave or traded it to LB, and figure it has a good home where it might get misplaced but never lost. :-)
harvey sachs
mcLean VA