keidal

Italian bicycle manufacturers produce very neat handlebars having the lever rods partly concealed inside the handlebar tubing.
I cannot see how to withdraw the two lever rods after removing all the external rodding, connections, front brake spring and the two push-in bushes, situated at each end.
After removing all the "external" bits, you are left with the handlebars having two holes, roughly in the centre.
The view through the hole which is for the rear brake is simple to understand; you just see the end of the lever rod which has a threaded hole for the rear rodding.
The view through the front brake hole is completely different, even after removing [by twisting], the bent steel activating rod, there appears to be a "bush" on the end of the lever rod to operate the said bent steel activating rod.
How you can withdraw both the front and rear brake lever rods is a complete mystery to me, unless you dismantle the various brazed joints.
Surely all the lever rods and internal "mechanisms" are not pre-assmebled before the handlebars are brazed up ?
There must be an easier way - please tell me how to remove the brake lever rods, otherwise the Nickel plating shop will have to do the re-plating with lever rods flapping about !

Lascauxcaveman 

Never heard of this kind of setup. Sounds crazy cool (or maybe just plain crazy.)

Would love to see some pics.

keidal

The first photograph is of an identical handlebar and stem rod brake arrangement on an old frame currently on offer on eBay. The second is of a new similar also on eBay.
It is quite a neat arrangement, unlike the usual external lever rod type with supporting brazed-on bosses and springs etc., which are easy to dismantle but not so easy to re-assemble.

ldmataya 

I had to rebuild most of the mechanism for the rear brake on this Umberto Dei, but it was so long ago I've forgotten most of how it went, other than I had to fabricate a couple of parts from aluminum stock. I seem to recall that the lever rod ended up just pushed into a bushing and that it wasn't too difficult to just pull it. I'll take a closer look when I get a chance - which may be a couple of days. The bike is now packed away for winter. So feel free to PM me if I forget.

https://flic.kr/p/8JcCjQ

keidal

I managed to withdraw the rear lever rod, but the front lever rod will not move outwards but it will still operate correctly up and down !

keidal

I have been cleaning the rear brake saddle and I can possibly make out the letters VISCONT. There might be letters before and/or after these but I can't see any due to wear, rust etc. Presumably this model or company is responsible for the handlebars also.
Any suggestions please ?

keidal

Apparently the manufacturer was VISCONTEA [Milan] and who was in business until 1950.
I'm told that there was possibly a Patent issue and that Umberto Dei might be involved - it all seems a bit of a mystery.