I'll look to see if the "SL" mark is on the front or rear caliper. As with yours it only appears on one of the set (being panto'd I'm going to go out on a limb and assume they're a set). And, as with yours, these are short reach, block lettered (under the panto), and with the post CPSC qr lever.
Still the thing that got my attention was the superior finish. As if these were a model up or for some special purpose.....................
On Jul 10, 2006, at 12:31 PM, Bob Hanson wrote:
> Gene, I'm glad you brought up the topic. After this thread first
> appeared I've been looking over my own Campy brakesets. I discovered
> the same "SL" stamping on the back of one of my brake caliper arms.
> This is on one (yes, just one) of what I would assume is indeed a pair
> -
> all the specific tiny parts and the finish quality match perfectly.
>
> In this case it is on the back of a "Small Front Brake Stirrip"
> (cat.#2040/1) which was part of a shorter reach (47mm.) caliper set,
> with "patent" on the center bolt, block lettering, and "bump" on the
> Q/R
> levers - so I'd assume they're from later half of the 1970s.
>
> Apart from that marking there seems nothing remarkable about these
> particular calipers, and nothing to distinguish the front from its
> un-marked rear mate (except of course the typical front rubber
> 'bumper'). So, I doubt your stamping was added with the bike-specific
> pantographs.
>
> Got me curious now, too! Appreciate any further info.
>
> Bob Hanson, Albuquerque, New Mexico
>
>
> Eugene Powell wrote:
>
> ...I've been cleaning and detailing a set of "Gianni Motta"
> pantographed
> Campy brakes and noticed something. The backside of these arms are as
> well polished as the fronts, as nicely finished as any area of any
> Campy
> part I've ever seen, and stamped "SL". Upon inspecting several other
> Campy brakesets I found the odd flaw, cast mark and generally a finish
> one might expect on the backside of something where the backside isn't
> likely to suffer close inspection.
>
> Did Campy make a "SL" brakeset I've never heard of?
>
> Was this mark and the extra attention added by the pantographers?
>
> Anybody have any thoughts on this?
>
Gene Powell
Rad Finishes
Portland, OR