On Oct 19, 2006, at 10:31 PM, Jan Heine wrote:
> Does anybody know when and how Universal brake hoods changed? I
> have seen them with blue paint in the depressed "Universal" and
> without. Some have aluminum barrel adjusters, others are covered
> with rubber.
>
> Which came first, and which are appropriate for a 1957 bike?
>
> Thank you for any input.
> --
> Jan Heine
Yes, and one version has a black rubber nipple over the top of the brake lever adjuster, another has a gum rubber version and a third, a ribbed white rubber band around the middle of the adjuster.
The easiest way to find the answer is to check the Giro and Tour photos of the period in question. The racers in the big tours almost always are supplied with the most current product and the photos usually appear with a date.
Have fun...
Chuck Schmidt
South Pasadena, Southern California
United States of America
http://www.velo-retro.com (reprints, t-shirts & timelines)