^ ya most weinmann/diacompe models are sure turnoffs

does the clb2 work well ? any real-life consequences of a peculiar design ?

I haven't mounted them yet. Perhaps others have used them. ...

I've got an NOS pair sitting here waiting for the right Paramount to come along. I'm equally curious.

That said, here's something that hasn't been posted here yet - New Gran Compe 450's:





I'm also a fan of the early Weinmanns that Peter mentions:



-Kurt

I have put Mafac Racer center pull brakes on my very Japanese Nishiki mixte (after removing the crappy Diacompe sidepull she came with-- I know it is not making her a French bike-- but there is really no better brake set for a mixte or similar vintage bike). They are lovely and stop much better! I will post a picture after my poor bike gets a bath. She is really not feeling photogenic after being ridden every day lately in the rain/snow. How do you guys get such nice pictures of your rides? Do they never get dirty or do you properly photograph them before they go into service?

Mafac Competitions with "brake boosters" and Kool Stop Mafac pads. Best performing brakes I have ever felt and no squeallllll

The cable attaches in the middle of the steel yoke. The rear, for which I have no picture, seems to work OK, in the work stand...

so where does one get a brakebooster, for, say, Universals ?

edit : funny how the early weinmann vainqueurs look almost identical to the universals...

there you go! (watch the "roller bearing" on the hanger)

Are those grease/zerk fittings on the calipers?

Take a look at these:

They look like an alien's face.

Someone went nuts profiling a set of Phils?

-Kurt

Pauls.

Before & After.

Here's my Weinmann 750 setup on the front of a Raleigh Sports.

Whatever. They're still clunky, ugly and heavy. ATMO, of course...

SP
Bend, OR

Here's your basic Schwinn Approved/DiaComp on my Twinn Sport. This is the bike I've equipped with quad brakes, two centerpulls and two drum brakes.



Front Drum



Rear Drum



Dual pull brake lever

It's actually not ridiculous if you consider that Dura Ace 7900-series, Campagnolo Record or Zero Gravity brakes are all more expensive, wheel for wheel. And plenty of people buy those (at least around here).

I had Campy Victory brakes and levers on my Cooper and switched the brakes to Zeus 2000 centrepulls with Kool Stop pads... the braking power is almost frightening.

I also love Mafacs and don't find them to the the pain to set up that most do... and again with Kool Stops they become rather excellent brakes.

I can't speak for bloom87 but I think the prices on dura ace/campy even more ridiculous, especially since they are manufactured on a larger scale than Paul's, and likely using much cheaper labour as well. They're priced to what most people are willing to pay for them though, so I'm not exactly frothing with outrage or anything. The local co-op has centrepull brakes overflowing their bins, I can get 'em at a buck a wheel, so I don't have much to complain about.

I don't have a camera but I've been cleaning up some mafac racers for an old motobecane.

My mistake. Posting too late for my own good.

-Kurt

Pastor Bob, I love that four-brake setup! I've never seen four on a bike. How well does it stop?

Sixty Fiver, of course, you and I won't find Mafacs hard to set up. But when you mentor a new mechanic, you'll get an idea of the skills you have but don't think about any more. I was training a 19 year old this past summer, and it took him over an hour to set up a Weinmann centerpull. If I had given him a Mafac, it would have taken him a day. That's the fun of teaching. You get to see what you know in slow motion to remind you of all the things you've learned along the way.

Check out these rare rod centerpulls:

https://biciclettedecadence.blogspot....-tenaglia.html

How 'bout the SunTour RollerCam? (Most mountain bikes have cantilever brakes, with the bosses mounted below the rims, but mine has bosses above the rims, requiring the use of true centerpull brake calipers.) I have a RollerCam on the front of my mountain bike, w/ the cable routed through a vertical hole in the Nitto stem. The rear brake is a Shimano centerpull mounted under the bottom bracket. W/ salmon KoolStop pads and 4-finger motorcycle-style brake levers, I have no complaints about stopping power!

https://mombat.org/85Suntour8.jpg
https://mombat.org/85XCSport5.jpg

I have the original ca. 1960 Weinmann 999s (610F/750R) on both Capos, including the original levers on Capo #2 and period correct Weinmann levers on Capo #1. I built the Peugeot w/ a Mafac Racer in front, a Peugeot-branded Weinmann 999/610 in back, and KoolStop salmons, w/ good results.

The only brakes I dislike are the early Campag. sidepulls on the Bianchi. Shimano aero levers helped a bit, as did KoolStops, but I would still prefer a bit more stopping power. When I tried some nice-looking Shimano pads, the lack of braking power was downright scary.

Geeze, if you see any Weinmann 750s in that bin I'll take one.