My recollection is that, like cottered cranks, Ballila CPs began on top-line bikes but by the bike boom had drifted downmarket and were only seen on boom gaspipe Italian bikes. That's what I remember anyway YMMV.
Kurt Sperry Bellingham WA USA
On 2/20/07, Richard Robinson <vintagespoke@earthlink.net> wrote:
>
> I have a question for all those vintage Italian lovers out there. I
> bought
> a nice set of vintage Balilla center pull brakes on ebay several months ag
> o and know only a little about the brand. I know they were offered on top
> tier Frejus bikes of the late 50's and early 60's, but this
> is about it. The brakes look very similar to Universal mod. 61 brakes, bu
> t are engraved with 'Balilla' in script on the front calip
> er arm and engraved 'Made in Italy' in block letters on the
> rear arm. They come with a set of very interesting levers with a unique q
> uick release, and have cool red anodized washers on the calipers like
> Weinm
> ann CP brakes only marked 'Balilla'. Can anyone tell me th
> e years they were offered and on what bikes these brakes may have been
> orig
> inal. Thanks in advance!