Possibly! But I hadn't noticed that that's where B.72's always fail. Truth be told, I have a strong dislike of B.72's which makes me a very poor judge of their strengths and weaknesses. I think this is because I habitually ride with my hands far below the saddle, and the B.72 is designed for much more upright posture. Which I can't stand.
Shortly after buying my '64 Armstrong 3-speed, I decided it needed something more "respectable" than the mattress saddle on it. A visit to Sheldon Brown indicated that the comparable Raleigh would have come with a B72 or B66, so I did more research and found some stories about older B72s cracking through the leather at the nose. Undaunted, I found a good deal on one and bought it. But like you, I rarely found myself in the mood to ride a bike so upright, and the frame is a smidgen too small for me, so I don't have much data to add either way.
I really should just find another home for that bike.