When I got my first top model road bike, a Windsor Pro, in 1973 (after a year on a UO-8), Campy brakes were available, but still somewhat novel. My otherwise all-Campy Windsor came with Universal Super 68's, and Universal brakes, or sometimes Weinnmans, were still common on many "all-Campy" bikes. Part of the reason was that the Campys were quite expensive. I seem to recall that they cost close to $50 in 1973 or 1974, which was a lot of money at that time, probably easily twice the price of MAFACS or Universals. Most better shops had one set in the display case, but most of us just looked at them longingly, unwilling to pop for the $50.
Regards,
Jerry Moos Houston, TX
Joe Bender-Zanoni <joebz@optonline.net> wrote: I had the perception that the Campagnolo brakes were also very slow to enter the US market. They were hard to get rarities in 1972. Does anyone recall sets for sale earlier in the US or. even as a catolog option, on any production bicycle available in the US.
By the way, I am really enjoying the Wienmann 999 centerpull thread. The iterations and "mistakes" Wienmann made and then to eventually to come up with a brake that was just bulletproof and so wonderfully production engineered for value, quality and performance. The machinery and process for Wienmann to make a product of that quality for that price at Swiss costs, even then, must have been a sight to behold.
Joe Bender-Zanoni
Great Notch, NJ
> It may seem odd, but it's true. Until the Campy sidepulls came out (may
have been 1968 rather than 1969), MAFAC Racer CP's were the favored brakes
on top model bikes, except in Italy, where Universal 61 CP's or sometimes
Universal Super 68 SP's were usually seen on top models. Top Swiss bikes
(and Paramounts) usually had Weinmann CP's. It was the Campy SP's and the
fact that Eddy Merckx used them that shifted the fashion from CP's to SP's.
>
> Regards,
>
> Jerry Moos
> Houston, TX
>
> Danny Jefferson wrote:
> All this discussion of Weinmann begs the question: where was Campagnolo?
The earliest catologue I see brakes is #16 (1969) is it correct then that
Campagnolo wasn't in the business of manufacturing/selling brakes untill
1969? That just seems odd to me.
>
> Danny Jefferson
> Seattle, WA
>
>
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