I have not, but it looks like a cool little item. I wouldn't place an order just for one of those, though!

Yeah, the shipping would kill me. I'll ask around my neighborhood's several LBS's first.

I wouldn't bother with the adjuster. I would route the cable through a ferrel just like the photos on the Classic Lightweight website. It sounds like your brake bridge is made to take a ferrel only and have a hole that will only allow the cable to pass through the bridge. Cable adjustment can still be made at the cable stirrup similar to how you adjust a sidepull brake.

I think the Claude Butler is very similar to yours and it also shows a Prugnat decal on the frame.

The bridge on my bike is not threaded either but I don't think mine would accept a typical ferrule either... so it sounds like yours is probably different.

I have a couple of chromed brass Mafac adjusters that will fit a ferrule opening, so they do exist.

I've used this sort of thing on a Mafac front brake hanger, drilled out slightly, to add some adjustment -- so they probably need a 5 mm hole.

http://www.biketoolsetc.com/Product_.../JW-NZ1222.jpg

Found at BikeToolsEtc, search for "adjuster."

The way the bridge is made, there's no room for anything to pass through the bridge but the cable itself, and I'm not going to drill it... So maybe the adjuster that goes under the top tube, or maybe nothing. We'll see.

I agree with MAFACs, but not gold.

Oh man oh man, that's a nice bike!

I think this bike should get Universal centerpull brakes, not Mafac. I'm not sure why I say that, but I feel pretty strongly about it.

I happen to have a pair I'm not using. Unfortunately, they're rebranded: Atala! Hahahaha!

Seriously, you should use Universals, but not necessarily with the Atala brand on it.

Oh, that's hilarious! Well, I'm going to use Mafacs, for two reasons. The first is I've already bought some from Justin. :)

The second is more important. It appears the JRJ frames of this period were designed for Mafacs. Check out this sales flyer for JRJ & Merlin frames (Bob Jackson made the same frames branded both ways) that I found at http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/:

http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/builders/jrj4.jpg

This is apparently from 1963, only predating my frame by 1 year. Note the 3rd from last line under "specification."

"Special Mafac brazed on bridge to seat stays"

The image of that frame looks pretty familiar too, doesn't it? It also notes the Prugnat lugs, the Campagnolo dropouts, etc. And whoever ordered it sprung for the (EXTRA) Campagnolo shifter bosses--thank you, whoever you are or were.

Looks like my bike is a 1964 J.R.J. San Remo Plus (Plus because of the chromed seat-tube).

:)

Yeah, well, Mafac brakes work extremely well. They're one of my favorites. I have a pair that I put on my Super Course, replacing the original Weinmanns. Mafacs are just better, though they're a pain to set up.

Get Kool Stop pads if you can. They're worth it.

Already have some. :)

Charles, can you take a photo of these?

I think everyone's forgotten the fact that MAFAC brake levers have barrel adjusters built in. Though if you want to make your life a little easier, use the cable and housing for the rear brake on another bike for a little while. There's actually not all that much stretch in the cables proper, but there is a surprising amount of compressibility in the housings.

So get all that worked out beforehand, and with a good setup, the adjustment at the lever should be all you'll ever need.

Ah, but I don't have any Mafac levers. I'm using some Dia Compe's--the ones with the built in quick release.

can't wait to see it all built up.

Well, hell, just get some Mafac levers then!!

I had this exact frame (Merlin) w/all Campy Nr. I got for $200 off of Philly CL. It was a tad small for me so I traded it to another forum memeber. I wish I never had..... Mine was black.

Lostarchitecht, PM me with your addy. I am awash in MAFAC levers and I will eat the shipping charge to ensure this frame is built as it was intended.

Captain Blight, do you have any Mafac levers made for upright bars? Those are excellent and rare.

By the way, Mafac levers are far superior to many other levers in their crashworthiness. The clamping mechanism is the reason.

Mafac were really ahead of their time. My guess is that they died because they didn't update their designs often enough. They didn't need to, but a consumer market demands frequent changes, even if they're gratuitous.

Captain, thanks very much for that offer! I will have to think about it, as I do really, really like the quick release on the Dia Compe levers... It would be nice to have the Mafacs for the adjusters, and for accuracy's sake, though... I'll have to wrap my head around it a little.

Here's a question for everyone: what do you think for bars on this bike? I have some Cinelli Giro D'Italia bars, but I'm not sure they're right for this. I also have some generic road drops, but they're pretty crummy. What would you use?

This thread is awesome.

Not just because of the awesome bike, but everyone chipping in to help out- in knowledge, pictures, parts... That sort of thing is really, really cool.

It is. I have found the people here incredibly generous, both with their knowledge and their stuff. I have learned a huge amount of stuff just in the past couple months that I have been hanging around here. It's a great community.

Hi Lost and friends, that is one beautiful bike. It will definitely be something special, and a joy to see when you complete the build. Friends, I have an opportunity of owning a Falcon, or a Bob Jackson in my size. The owner will be sending me the pictures in the next few days. I do not know the ages or components, but I wanted to ask everybody if you could please provide me with some feedback that wll help me in the selection of the bike. I have read nothing but great things from here in the forum about the BJ, now it is the Falcon's turn to read more about. Let me know if I should pen a new thread, as I do not want to interfere in Lost's thread. Thank you for your help, and I apologize if me posting here was inappropiate. Thanks!

Flash

Probably best to start a new thread, I'm sure people will be able to help you. Check the link in my sig if you want to see my bike built up.