[CR]When were brake lever extensions Invented or become popular in this country?

From: Tom Sanders <tsan7759142@sbcglobal.net>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Mon, 25 Sep 2006 14:57:54 -0400
Thread-Index: Acbg1IHu9NkcegsiRJO8M7ZkRO4LOA==
Subject: [CR]When were brake lever extensions Invented or become popular in this country?

I recently bought a '62 bike with them on...I have a picture of an identical model from the same year with only conventional brake levers. I am wondering if these on this bike could date from '62, were they a later add on or what? The bike in question is a Schwinn Superior. It seems incredibly original, but I do question those darn levers, and whether I should leave them on.
Tom Sanders
Lansing, Mi USA