Joe Bender-Zanoni wrote:
>
> Now I'm interested. Dave's reply was that Universal clamps did not come with
> the 68's and 77s and I agree and think that also applies to the 61s. Any one
> have clamps from that era?
>
> Has anyone actually seen or got there hands on older one? It seems like a
> simple matter for Universal to make clamps but they didn'tseem big on
> supplying them, at least after 1961 or so.
Yes, I have two 50s Bianchis with the Universal clamps. The clamps are unmarked but have the distinctive twin band configuration. Not very nicely made; the radiused ends are off center and lots of razor sharp edges from the stamping operation that haven't been cleaned up. One of the bands is actually misstamped with the bands at the place where there are supposed to be none (at the hump to hold the housing).
I've seen fifties bikes with Universal brakes and the clips, but I've never seen sixties bikes with Universal brakes and the clips.
My guess: Universal stopped supplying their clamps by the 1960s because bike manufacturers were specifying the Campagnolo clips with the Campagnolo spec'd bikes. The Campagnolo clip was available 15 or more years before Campagnolo made a brake.
There is a huge difference in the quality of the Universal band and the Campagnolo band. The Campagnolo band has the edges smoothed, has a stamped-in reinforcement at the hump for the housing, and a captive nut.
Chuck Schmidt South Pasadena, Southern California
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