gridplan

Anyone know when these were made? Are they first generation Dura Ace? I don't know one Dura Ace series from another, but they came off some 1970's handlebars, so I'm thinking maybe they're fairly early. Thanks in advance.

rat fink

First gen, I think.

curbtender

https://velobase.com/ViewComponent.as...118&AbsPos=141

gridplan

Excellent. Thanks, guys. Looks like they were made between '73-'76, too.

gomango

My 1975 Bob Jackson sports these levers.

Just found new hoods!

gridplan

Very nice! The hoods on these were so dry, I decided to remove them. I think I have the same bar-cons. They were also on the handlebars.

gomango

Thank you!

The whole package is a pleasant surprise.

I can't wait to get her out of dry dock this spring.

Jeff Wills

+1. From the 1973 Shimano Dura-Ace catalog: https://www.velo-pages.com/main.php?g2_itemId=6964

Bikedued

True first gen had turkey wings, and centerpull brakes that became Tourney by 1980 +/- That "looks" like the first gen design, but second because of the black anodizing and lack of wings. I had a Volkscycle Mark 100 with the full earliest group.,,,,BD

Second gen had sidepulls...

Jeff Wills

I think you're right. Another look shows the 1975+ black anodized series had black brake lever bodies:
https://equusbicycle.com/bike/shimano...ocat750005.pdf

gridplan

Thanks again, guys. Does that mean the velobase link re: first generation Dura Ace is incorrect?

"All of the photos and catalog cuts I have seen for the black ano brakesets show only silver levers with gum hoods."

Bikedued

Possibly, but I can't be sure? Maybe it was a side group with different brakes? It had the same Cranks, FD, Crane rear, etc. It had large flange hubs marked with the very old school shimano designation of 3.3.3. It also had Shimano bar end shifters marked with the same 3.3.3 logo. I had only ever seen the triple 3 on three speed hubs and shifters before that, so you can imagine my confusion seeing it on higher end components. Let me try and find the pics on another thread from a few years ago. The levers were very close, but no ano, and no hoods. The sidepulls look elegant by comparison, black or silver..,,,,,BD

Found them. Post 4832 if my eyes are working right tonight.

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...e#post10855584

gomango

Ah, the plot thickens!

Not that this means a thing, but the seller I acquired the hoods from had them listed as 1st gen. DA hoods.

On a side note, they fit the levers perfectly.

balindamood

Not all 1st gen came with turkey wings. Those are 1st gen levers (I have the same set on a '75 Romic, and a silver pair on a '75 Moulton). There MAY be a date code on the inside face of the lever body which will give you the year/month of production, although Shimano did not fully adopt this practice until about 1976.

FWIW, I think any non-aero Shimano brake hoods will work, and older DA's are still relativey available on Ebay.

Bikedued

I think I was reading another post, and correlated them both into one. Sorry.,,,,BD

gridplan

Good suggestion. Unfortunately, I don't see a date code. So I'm hearing both first generation and second generation on this thread. Maybe I should just list them on eBay as "early Dura Ace levers" and leave it at that.

T-Mar

Dura-Ace came out in 1973. The lever bodies were originaly silver with a red anodized pivot pin (like Weinmann). The black anodized option of Dura-Ace came out in 1974 but still used the old levers. The OP's levers with the black body and silver pivot pin came out for 1975. The lever design changed in 1977, so the OP's levers should be 1975-1976.

I can't say I've ever seen the Dura-Ace levers equipped with saftey extensions. The Dura-Ace centre-pull calipers I've seen were spec'd with Tourney levers equipped with saftey extensions.

repechage

To the nit pickers, the first generation Dura-Ace brake was a center pull, but was not part of a complete group or the new for 1973 top tier Dura-Ace racing group. The center pulls were then renamed Tourney. The Dura-Ace name had little recognition until Shimano started the advertising campaigns for the new racing group. Why spoil a decent marketing name?

the black anno parts started to be shown in 1974... Black anno was cool, it was Super Recordish.

Bikedued

I have seen two bikes with the centerpull dura ace calipers, and both had no hoods and extensions. The attachment of the extensions are smoother than all others I have seen. It almost feels like they're not even there when riding on the hoods. One bike was the Mark 100, and the other was a Free Spirit at the flea market. It had to be a transplant, but then again who would put Dura Ace on a Free Spirit even unknowningly,,,,BD

Bikedued

See the link I posted above? Full on Dura Ace equipped Volkcycle Mark 100, with centerpulls, turkey wings, DA cranks, crane RD and Titlist FD? They were used together, if only for a short time?,,,,BD

balindamood

1970's DA brake levers with turkey wings, unknown date. They were matched to DA center-pulls.



Black DA group (including levers) on a 1975 Romic. I have confirnmed that this was the original group on the bike bought at a trade show in 1975. No codes on the levers, but those items with date codes (FD, brake calipers, crankset, and chain rings) are all Y series date codes (1974).

Bikedued

I have a loose theory that the turkeys and centerpulls were first year only, and that blck and silver were available at the same time. I have seen both both groups on all years and makes of bikes of the 70's.,,,,BD

cuda2k

Indeed, the turkey winged, non drilled levers seen above are the first Dura-Ace lever made, followed very quickly by the drilled lever versions like the OP posted. Since both were paired with the early Dura-Ace 'Crane' derailleurs and other parts, they are both cataloged under the "Dura-Ace First-Gen" group on VeloBase. I also have the Dura-Ace centerpulls in there as well. As rare as the centerpulls and turkey wings are, I suspect they were indeed probably just a 1-year deal in 73, with the certainly more race looking parts following the next year.

Dura-Ace, First Generation on VeloBase.com

gridplan

Thanks, everyone. I now know a bit more about these levers. In fact, you've educated me on things I never thought to ask.

khatfull

You learn more here by accident than elsewhere by design.

MSP folks MIGHT know where that comes from