There are at least three, maybe four or five distinct types of Superbe / Superbe Pro brakes.
The original "Superbe" calipers have a flip-open q/r mechanism, have a barrel adjuster on the top of the levers, have gum hoods and hoodlets, and are stamped "Superbe" and "4700" on the arches. Regular-reach only, I think.
What I call the second-generation are the much more typical, Campagnolo clones with the brick-red pads and adjuster o-rings. These came in short and regular. The calipers are inked with "Superbe" on the arches in black. There were at least two distinct lever types for these brakes (perforated vs. solid), as well as two (gum) hood styles. There were also "small" levers (shorter reach / smaller) available for folks with smaller hands.
Then there were the late style ones with the hidden springs, more aero-looking, black hoods, pads, and o-rings. These were even aero-routing, IIRC, but I'm less familiar with this late version of SP brakes. They look more like Dura-Ace stuff by that point.
There were probably lots of minor changes along the way as well.....
Greg Parker Ann Arbor, Michigan
Date: Sun, 01 Jan 2006 08:59:16 -0600 (CST) From: <smwillis@verizon.net> To: L Travers <lat7575@swbell.net>, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: Re: [CR] Superbe Pro caliper question
I thought they were the same. Steven Willis
The Bike Stand
1778 East Second Street
Scotch Plains NJ 07076
908-322-3330
http://www.thebikestand.com
>From: L Travers <lat7575@swbell.net>
>Date: Sat Dec 31 21:51:30 CST 2005
>To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
>Subject: [CR]Superbe Pro caliper question
>Since Superbe Pro was brought up.....
>
>How does one tell Superbe from Superbe Pro brake calipers? All the
>Superbe Pro calipers I have seen only have Superbe on them. Or were
>there only Superbe Pro calipers? Anyone have part numbers? I have
>seen some part numbers on yellow jersey, but only Superbe Pro.
>
>Thanks
>
>--
>Lynn Travers
>Hazelwood, MO