[CR]Early Campy Reacord Brakes/SR Levers

(Example: Framebuilders:Tony Beek)

From: "The Maaslands" <TheMaaslands@comcast.net>
To: "CR" <Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Mon, 10 Jul 2006 14:21:17 -0400
Subject: [CR]Early Campy Reacord Brakes/SR Levers

After receiving the note attached below from a former East Coast CR list member, I realize that my post regarding the first generation Campagnolo brake levers could be misconstrued and misunderstood, so I think it important to clarify. I had written:

"For the levers, these definitely do not belong to the brake calipers, but are nonetheless collectible in their own right. I believe these to be the first generation Super Record levers made in the first half of the 70's, not upon laucnh of the brakes in the 60's. The first generation brake levers have a lighter colored anodizing on the body and a slightly different shape body (on Stefan's you can see the darker anodizing color). They also have a round access hole on the rear side of the lever blade to feed a brake cable that is absent on later levers as well as Stefan's."

This should have read:

"For the levers, the levers presented in the auction definitely do not belong to the auction brake calipers, but are nonetheless collectible in their own right. I believe the auction levers to be the first generation Super Record levers made in the first half of the 70's, not upon launch of the brakes in the 60's. The true first generation brake levers (ie not the ones with the lever blade drilling as seen in the auction) have a singificantly lighter colored anodizing on the body and a slightly different shape body (on Stefan's you can see the darker anodizing color). The true first generation Campagnolo brake levers (ie the ones without the drilled holes) also have a round access hole on the rear side of the lever blade to feed a brake cable that is absent on later levers as well as Stefan's."

As for my earlier comment about rumors suggesting that fakes first generation "no-name" calipers are circulating in Boston and California, you can see that the Former East Coast CR listmember confirms that the Boston part to be true as he admits to having at least one set. His comments about stainless steel center bolts also make me realize that if you were to want to fake these brakes, the easiest way to counterfeit the centerbolts would indeed be to do so with stainless steel.

Lastly, regarding the supposed first generation SR (drilled) brake lever blades, he sent me the following photos with his email reprised below: http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/Miscellaneous_items/EarlySR_1 and http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/Miscellaneous_items/EarlySR_2 . I would be interested in hearing other people's theories about these levers. They look mighty similar to the ones that I made for myself in the early 80's when I decided to further lighten my SR levers with a drill. Especially the third and fourth holes in the left-most lever in the second photo. If my eyes don't deceive me, you can see where the initial hole, with its characteristic deformed hole has been redone subsequently in the attempt to hide the deformed original hole.

Steven Maasland
Moorestown, NJ


----- Original Message -----
From:
To: "The Maaslands"
Sent: Monday, July 10, 2006 11:38 AM
Subject: Early Campy Reacord Brakes/SR Levers


Steven...

This information is incorrect in its entirety. First generation SR levers are _instantly_ distinguishable by the fact that the holes are drilled and countersunk, rather than punched/extruded. There were _no_ sr levers with round cable access holes. Anodizing was the same, although anodizing in-and-of-itself is not a perfect science, and results always varied.

As for your comments about fakes of these, I actually have a set. If you look closely, you can see where there is remnants of the engraving that wasn't removed, but in so removing, the profile of teh caliper is easily distinguishable from the real deal.

First gen, no engraved Campy calipers actually have a different barrel adjuster and o-ring. Although innocuous, there are minute differences in the shape of the adjuster andthe size of the o-ring.

I have in my possession a set of early record, no-engraved calipers with stainless steel pivot bolts. Now that's rare!

See pix of real first gen SR levers.