Should be noted that the Gran Compe GC540 is a short reach brake, and the GC610 is a medium reach brake.

There weren't a lot of short reach centerpulls ever made. They were out of fashion by the time that short reach became standard. Another great one that comes to mind is the Zeus 2000. It was a very pretty and finely finished super deluxe racing centerpull. About 20 years too late to market...

These from velobase are standard (medium) reach. IIRC they did come in short reach, but maybe I mis-remembered. (EDIT: seems that there was one size only, but it was between short and medium reach. Minimum adjustment 45)


If we go by looks alone I definitely vote for Mafac. They were not finely finished, but still the prettiest from a sculptural point of view, IMO. And the levers remind me of Babar.