Tandem Cycling - Drag brake lever options?

Being new to tandeming I don't know these things. I've seen mention of levers that the stoker could "set" then "don't forget to release". That implies something unconventional to this old steel-bike guy. Tell me more please. What would that be? Something specific to tandems or something from another application pressed into brake service?

Thanks.

You can use an old friction thumb shifter or barcon. If you have an indexed shifter, it can be set to friction only.

You can use an old friction thumb shifter or barcon. If you have an indexed shifter, it can be set to friction only.
Barcons I understand, never used one though. (Does a barcon offer enough cable displacement?) Thumb shifter, whuzzat?

Like I said, I'm an old guy. Until recently the last time I worried seriously about bike parts was, oh, maybe 1985. More on the V side of C&V, so to speak. My DT friction shifters never stopped working. :)

The "set and forget" is a rear hub brake. The brake is similar to a car drum brake and made by Arai. It was built to dissipate heat so it can be set during a descent. They are usually controlled by a barcon or a handlebar mounted "thumb lever" that were used for shifting several years ago. Unfortunately, they have not been manufactured for several years but may be found in stock at one of the tandem shops such as Tandems East.

Barcons I understand, never used one though. (Does a barcon offer enough cable displacement?) Thumb shifter, whuzzat?

Yes, barcons offer enough cable displacement. Thumb shifters are/were designed for upright handlebars, and are mounted where the thumb can reach when holding the handgrips. An example would be the common 3 speed shifters for 3 speed internal hubs in the 60s.

The "set and forget" is a rear hub brake. The brake is similar to a car drum brake and made by Arai.
...but may be found in stock at one of the tandem shops such as Tandems East.

Thank you. Ah, I know what the drum brake is, already have one on the bike I'm rebuilding. It's an Atom, in great shape, already on the bike but obvioulsy not connected. I'm looking at lever options.

Atom drum?
Had one back in the 1970s on our Follis tandem; was a bit problematic (rubbing).

Just took my Arai drum brake off my 98 Co-Motion Tandem. Not touring in the mountains so away it goes in the box! Mine was set up with a bar end lever on the stoker handle bars. Worked really nice when adjusted right!

We have a mountain bike shifter on the stokers handle bar.

Would it be possible to setup an arai to the index shifter a 3 speed shimano ultegra sti shifter? I feel like the small plastic piece is pretty flimsy and might break when applying pressure to pull the drum brake.