Mafac 2000. Anyone remember these?
 

When I posted about Normandy high flange hubs in another thread, I started to recall I ran a pair of Mafac Racer centerpulls before moving on to my road racing phase. I couldn't remember what happened to them.
While home for thanksgiving, I was in my folks' garage looking for my biking parts bin that I'd left behind 20 years ago. I was surprised to find the old cardboard box was still there. Even found a pair of rollers!

Inside were unused tubes, boxed Specialized Turbo R clinchers (!!), a scuffed up Avocet Racer II saddle, and an old Suntour Superbe brake box. The Superbe's replaced my Mafacs. Paydirt! I thought. But instead of my Racers I found a set of Mafac 2000 and original levers. (Did my Racers mature with age like wine??)
:D
A primo condition Suntour VxGT rear der. I had ran was also missing. I must have donated both to someone.
There was a 70s Maillard freewheel, but I never ran one. These must have been from a friend who passed along the Normandy hubs to me.

I remember the Mafac Competition line of centerpulls. But I don't recall where the 2000 line fit in the timeline and pecking order. Anyone here used these?

Thought I'd share some pics of my good fortune. Great if I can find new hoods to fit these. There is a bit of road rash on one lever.

http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/5...ac01xj1.th.jpghttp://img404.imageshack.us/img404/7...ac02zy7.th.jpghttp://img404.imageshack.us/img404/4...ac04zl0.th.jpghttp://img404.imageshack.us/img404/1...ac03mi3.th.jpg

I believe that the "2000" is just a later version the gold anodized competition that was a previous model. I think the gold competition was just a special version of the standard competition model...

http://piledrivermedia.com/files/mot...m/IMG_4631.jpg

There were at least two versions of the "2000" centerpulls. The version you have photoed there, and an earlier engraved version.

http://velobase.com/CompImages/Brake...68FAD950E.jpeg

Both are on VeloBase.com, but can't give much information on where it came in the line compared to the Competition. I'd like to get some more photos of the 2000 version of the Mafac levers.

As stated by Cuda2k, you have the later of the two versions. I had the earlier, engraved (and gold anodized) version on a 1974 Jeunet Professional. I don't know the exact year that your version was introduced but presumibly it was no earlier than 1975. The model labels, as opposed to engraving, were in use by at least 1976, as I had a St, Etienne from that that year with Competition brakes that had labels. The 2000 were still in the line-up as late as 1979, so I would simply call them late 1970s.

Check the back of the arms on your set. I have seen some Mafac from this period with what appears to be a date code. My previously mentioned Competition had a 10 76 stamped on the back. I've always assumed this to be a week-year identifier, but haven't been able to verify it with other Mafac sets of the era.

Regarding position in the line-up, I imagine it could vary depending on the exact year. The only year for sure that I know the exact position is 1979, when they were listed 2nd in the centre-pull line, just below the GT and above the Competition.

I a;ways thought of the "2000" as a "Competition" upgraded with tire guides. There are some other differences, as you can see in this old poster. If you use your browser's zoom feature, the part numbers are almost legible.

http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/ma...geViewsIndex=1

I checked the photo I have of the later version of the 2000 caliper I have and didn't see any markings other than "Made in France" on the back. Can't be much more help than that.

Thanks for all the info and help everyone. Tonight I inspected a caliper closely and managed to find a faint stamping of 10 77 on the back of the front arm. So, it's 1977 production.
I'll polish them up and update them with Koolstop blocks. And await a nice steel frame find to use them on.
Variety is good.
;)

Hmmm...I was just asking about this in another thread - which Kool Stops are you planning to use?

These for the Campy NR. Claimed to fit the Mafac as well. I want to keep as much of the pretty gold.

http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/brake...tml#campagnolo

They'll work, but I wouldn't call them a good fit.

http://inlinethumb02.webshots.com/33...600x600Q85.jpg