Wow, there sure does seem to be lot of confusion surrounding the difference(s) between SR and Nuovo calipers. Seems like a lot of folks have theories, some of which are wrong, at least according to Mr. White. I can see where there is a lot of room for confusion, because I can think of at least 8 different Record calipers, not including the 50th Anniversary and Cobalto models*. Given how bike parts can be mixed and matched over time (in the shop, by the owner), any of these calipers might appear on a bike with any of several Record (at least 4 types) and Super Record (at least 3 types) levers. This is all the more probable because most folks never gave a hoot about historical accuracy and having this years brake lever wasnt always as essential as it seems to be today. Beyond doing what Chuck does, which is to review old catalogs, the only other reasonably definitive assessment of differences between SR and Nuovo would involve looking at what came in the blue and yellow boxes back in the day. With that as my guide, Ill stick my neck out and say that there never, ever was a bit of difference between what came in the blue box and what came in the yellow box. Yes, there were alloy and steel holders, block and script logos, etc., etc., but at any given time, the boxes that were blue and the boxes that were yellow left Vicenza with the all same parts inside except the lever part of the brake lever assembly.
It is probably of little interest to most of you, but there are actually two different types of Record alloy shoe holder.... well, really there are at least four... but the two basic types are different in that the early ones were roughly the same dimensions as the old steel holders (remember how heavy they were, so slow on the climbs ;-). As Steven mentioned they tended to break. In fact, I had six of them as of a few weeks ago, but when I tried to straighten some that had squished down at the tire guide, two of the guides broke off. Having only one complete set left, I didnt attempt any more straightening. Anyway, they were weak and would break if you grabbed them to compress the caliper (as when attaching the cable). The solution was a redesign with a wider tire guide. It was almost twice as wide where the guide meets the main part of the holder. They are much, much, more common than the skinny break away model.
As for my comment that there were actually four types of alloy holder... well, some but not all of the skinny holders had the markings reversed on one side so the left and right shoes would be mirror image, rather than having two-fold axial symmetry like all the earlier steel models and all the later beefed-up alloy models. The fourth type is the beefed-up alloy model with the gray plastic that came on later Cobaltos, though not the very early ones, which were black.
*Record Caliper types: 1) 1st gen no logo, 2) early type with Brev. center bolt, 3) the typical pre-CPSC flat QR type, 4) the early post-CPSC type with plastic coated steel shoe holders, domed QR and the old style cam typically associated with the pre-CPSC flat QR, 5) the same as 4, but with the newer cam that reads Camp. Instead of having Campagnolo spelled out around the perimeter 6) like type 5, but with skinny alloy shoe holders, 7) last of the block logo type, just like type 6, but having the beefed up alloy holder, and 8) the very common script logo type. Note that there are likely more variations within the rare early models (types 1 and 2), but who ever gets to see them? Also, I would speculate that the difference between 4 and 5 is likely the result of tooling changes sometime around the CPSC changeover. As another twist, I have short reach arms that are marked Brev. Inter just like all the normal arms Ive seen, while the vast majority of short reach arms seem to be marked Brev. Int. So this is another change that I think took place around the time of the CPSC changes. If the change in the markings did not coincide with one of the other changes, that makes 9 versions. Its tough for me to nail down this nuance, as far as when it took place relative to other changes, and whether there was switching back and forth through time. This is because the only Brev. Inter. short reach arms I have did not come to me on assembled calipers so I have no clear idea of how late they may have appeared... it could have been strictly a pre-CPSC thing.
Finally (really) regarding the late levers that Lou D. and Karen R. mentioned: Lou, I know for certain that circa 1987 some very late SR brakesets came through with the white shield logo hoods normally found in Victory levers. These sets also came with pearl white housings and 1.6mm wires normally associated with Cobalto and later brakesets (Chorus, Delta, Athena). Ann, the shield logo drilled-out non-aero lever was the Victory lever. I dont doubt that Campy may have shipped some very, very late SR sets with those levers, but it was originally from the Victory group.
Tom Dalton
Bethlehem, PA
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