Question about some parts (campagnolo,balilla and other)
 

Question 1:
Is derailleur the first generation of campagnolo record?

https://i.ibb.co/X3MxMsH/IMG-20200918-210957.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/PDSXQLL/IMG-20200918-210929.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/2vJbQz8/IMG-20200918-210924.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/3dzMsgz/IMG-20200918-210922.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/sj6NBV1/IMG-20200918-210912.jpg

Question 2:
For a better eroica setup :
Would you like to prefer the balilla brakes or the saccon?
https://i.ibb.co/SVFSZt8/IMG-20200918-210714.jpg

Question 2.1:
Do you think is a bad idea to modify the look of those balilla levers? my idea was to made some little holes inspired to campy super record 1983
http://velobase.com/CompImages/Brake...62F3D3928.jpeg

I believe the derailleur is the later, post-CPSC version. The earlier version had a flat outer plate.

WRT the brake levers, that would depend on the bike. The Balilla looks a lot like the classic Universal lever, and would be my choice for an older, pre-1975 bike. The Saccon would be more at home on an eighties bike.

You right, here a picture of my bike. Which lever do you think is more suitable?

Link - - - >https://ibb.co/yVXQBdK

I answer with a quick and unwavering "yes" to question 2.1.

To a possible question 2.2, "should I polish the **** out of them?" I also answer "yes."

.
...both Universal and Balilla brake levers are somewhat notorious for being a little bit on the fragile side. So no, it's not a good idea to **** with them.

In this case I would keep the Saccon levers. They fit in nicely with the other parts. Maybe add a couple of hoods.

You might want to turn around the rear wheel's quick release, though, for full marks. ;)

They added that lip to the front of the Record front derailleur cage in, what? 1977 or 78?
First generation of the Record derailleur was in 1962-63 as I remember.

Update: I decided to clear the metal but i still had to make a better polish. But to be honest they looks already a lot better than before.
Also i dediced NOT to make a full hole but instead i made some little marks with an engraver tool , they are not so perfect but i like a lot.
Photo before: https://i.ibb.co/SVFSZt8/IMG-20200918-210714.jpg
Photo now: https://i.ibb.co/YQfkPw6/pixlr-20200919214701479.jpg

i hope you guys like the results as me :D :D

I like it! Fill the dimples with (yellow?) paint, and polish them really shiny. :)

BTW, will we be seeing you in Gaiole in Chianti next year?

I was thinking a white color to recall the other details of the frame.
I really hope to meet you and others in Gaiole next year, will be a pleasure 🙏

-----

Buogiorno Don Peppino,

La leva sinistra in your photo is a Fratelli Pietra (Universal) product and is item nr. 306.

It is relatively late as the pivot screw, part nr. 359, exhibits a silver finish. Up until about 1967-68 the 306 came through with a brass pivot screw.

Usage tip - the pivot screws on these often work loose with use/time. Suggest removal of screw and adding a drop of thread setting compound such as Loctite.


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...06a95e58f2.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c097aa5504.jpg

-----

1977, IIRC.

And the early ones had a cable housing stop built in. From Catalog 15:

The drawing illustrate the third model of front derailleur.
The second model is with a cable stop with only a hole for the cable
The first has also screws to retain 778 & 782

First time I read "both Universal and Balilla brake levers are somewhat notorious for being a little bit on the fragile side. So no, it's not a good idea to **** with them."

If it's true that with long use the rod on which the lever is turning can wear out, it's not a reason to throw the blame on these levers.

juvela you are better than wikipedia :D

-----

The Campagnolo Record model front mech, 1052/1, launched 1959-60.

The screws securing the steel pivot arms to their respective pivot posts, as mentioned by Munny above, are visible in this image:


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1b8066312b.jpg

VeloBase.com - Component: Campagnolo 1052/1, Record (1st version?; no slot in cable stop)


-----

...I would show you the ones I've taken off bicycles that were cracked or broken, but I threw them away. :)

-----

Have long suspected that most failures of the Universal 301/303/306 cast lever body are due to overtightening of mounting bolt or crashes.


-----

...I think that's probably true. But it doesn't explain why it's so much more common,( in my personal experience,) than just about any other aluminum brake levers. I overtighten and crash everything else, too, and they seem to come through OK. :) I read some guy's ad selling some NOS Universals, where he was explaining they were often used "as an upgrade" to MAFAC levers. Then something about how Universals were "top of the line at the time". I was giggling by the time I got to the end of it. :D

-----

member non-fixie has posted that there was a period of time when Belgian and Dutch professional riders were fond of the combination of MAFAC Racer calipers and Universal levers. suspect this had to do with the fit in the hand and the fact that Universals came with full hoods at a time when MAFAC offered only half hoods.

agree that the Universal lever bodies seem less robust than their MAFAC and Weinmann counterparts. interesting since the Weinmanns are of formed sheet.

have precious little experience working with the Corsa 61 model levers of Balilla for comparison. most of the bikes which came through me workshop with Balilla brakes were made with the economy model levers.

-----

Hello guys , another question.
this is the cheap pair of hoods i found on internet , do you think they can fit well on my universal? the seller said yes but honestly the looks kinda weird by comparing to the real universal hoods.
Also do toy think is a bad chouse for aestetics? or is better to make my own with some reasl leather?

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e817394935.jpg

-----

if you only want them for a usage application that would probably be fine

they certainly do not look right from a restoration perspective

we have now a number of reproduction hoods available to fit the Universal levers but none have attempted to duplicate the originals as manufactured up to 1976 with the dark rubber forumulation and the blue hotstamp

-----

bad idea to change the look of the Balilla levers. the Universal hoods do NOT look right without the blue hotstamp
why are you wanting to change everything when new looked best?

Do I mis-remember (again) that there was somebody offering re-pops of the classic Universal hoods (in this modern age)? Was it Robbie Fellowes (who was making a lot of Campy hood re-pops) or somebody else? I bet you could find some better than the white examples if you did some "heavy Googling"

-----

CrowSeph -

forum member iab did some wonderful reproductions of the Vittoria brand hoods which would be a reasonable fit on the Universal levers and be period correct.

at last check he had them available for purchase at 16USD/pr. in the C&V for sale forum.

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...ria-hoods.html

-----

Very interesting indeed , i can make a few project with this procedure. for sure i'll took a note.
Coming back to the hoods discussion , at this point due to the rarity of the hoods itself (and the overprice of some) is bad to put the lever whitout any hoods?