bigwoo

I'm really frazzled today and cant seem to make any good decisions, so I'm wondering if you good folks could help me? I have made the (very dumb) mistake of beginning work on 2 of my personal rides at the same time (which I'll never do again); the '71 Libertas just needs a wheel upgrade. The (early 70's ?) Legnano has both brake and wheel issues:

First off, does anybody suspect what year these (Universal ?) brake levers may be as I believe them to be original to the Legnano?
Somebody went berzerk with the JB Weld....
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Next, is there any way I can salvage the brake levers by just trying to purchase new hoods for them, or should I just try to find a nice new set of era-acurate brake levers?

bigwoo

And as far as the wheels, I found an era-acurate set of Ambrosio's w/ Campy High-Flange hubs for the Legnano, but wonder if I should go with these Araya's w/ unknown Shimano hubs or the 27" Rigidas w/ Ofmega hubs for the Libertas? Which ones do you feel are of higher quality? (I can run either 700C or 27" on it)

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bigwoo

And finally, I'm a stupid idiot for forgetting that I stashed this destroyed Fiamme Yellow Label behind the furnace because I knew I'd want the hub someday

I have no idea who made this hub, but I'm thinking that it is a keeper that I could either use or trade to one of you guys for the brake levers/hoods...There is something unique about the oval cutouts on it...But I have no idea who made the hub..??? (The Regina is going on the Legnano)

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Thanks for putting up w/ my stupidity today. I just aint' thinkin' clearly

iab

With regards to the Universal lever, it is hard to tell from the pictures, I'll explain. The back is closed, the earliest it could be would be mid '50s, before that, they had an open back. The latest they could be is mid '70s, by then they were putting slots in the levers to "lighten" them. To the best of my knowledge, they made these plain ones for about 20 years. But, there is a slight difference over the years. The early ones, mid '50s to the release of the Model 61, the levers were a bit longer and had a pointed tip. If they are not pointed, I'd say early '60s to the mid '70s.

old_alfie

Lissen Buddy, you needn't prostrate yourself and kiss these peoples butts like that, you'll get all the help you need here.
That said, the only idiot in the conversation is the one who glued the brake lever back together. For the cost of the tube of that garbage he could have gotten a thrift shop bike to cannibalize for brake levers if he was short on cash at the time and couldn't afford new after-market levers.
alf

CV-6 

Tossup on the wheelset. Cannot tell much about the Shimano hubs, but not high end. Ditto the Ofmega, but both are serviceable hubs. Same for the rims. Might be a matter of which one fits the frame better.

infinityeye

that hub may be a "munchy"

USAZorro

Looks like a Spidel or Simplex skewer in that thar eyetaleeyun hub.

btw - I don't think those are dumb questions you asked.

dbakl

The lever looks like the typical Universal number. Hit some bike shops that have been around awhile and see if they'll let you go through their junk bins. Otherwise, ebay, and the hoods are sometimes there too.

CV-6 

Roger that.