Are these Universal 51 levers??
 

Folks-

I'm going through boxes of parts right now and I turned up these levers that struck me as being very "Universal-ish". I compared them to some 68's that I have (broken) and they are similar but much heavier.

I did a search online and found only a few pics of the 51's and they all had hoods, but, it does seem these are the same levers. I was hoping someone had a pair and could chime in!

Would these take the hoods that fit the 68's, if they are indeed 51's? I actually have a use for these on my old Le Champion....the original 68's are broken and I've been using Mafacs....

thanks for any thoughts,

mark
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=288467http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=288468

Maybe. But those knurled adjusters look wrong.

They could be 61s. But I agree, those knurled adjusters look wrong for 61 s or 68s.
The same hoods will fit 61s and 68s and if these are model 51s, will fit too.

Ah yes, the adjusters threw me too. But, here's what I found, which I think proves these are Universals:

1) I swapped an adjuster from a model 68 with the "mystery" lever, same threads
2)I found my old mostly trashed Universal 68 hoods, they fit the "mystery" lever just fine
3)check out this website, they mention the model 51's and earlier Universal levers having knurled adjusters, and also there's a pic at the bottom of one w/ white hoods, looks just like these ones
http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/universal.html

Whatcha think?

mark

I had a Maino in great shape...

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=288519

and it was fitted with these brakes and levers...

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=288517 http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=288518

...I am not really sure what model they are, though, but they are Universal levers, as nearly as I can tell.

While I agree the adjusters could be similar to the picture on classiclightweights, the scallop of the brake body is nothing like yours. Yours is a nice curve, the cl picture is a rounded square scalop. And remember, that is an older version with pointy tips and a closed back. Yours are most definitely not the older version.

The same threading is not an indicater of anything.

That said, never say never. Yours could be a knock-off or it could something that was modified sometime in the last 60 years. I certainly can't say because I sold off my Universals in favor for Balillas years ago.

That is kinda interesting. I always thought the Balillas were inferior (not sure why I thought that) though I never tried a set out. That said, I still have a couple of complete sets left in The Old Shed. The hood material seems to be able to withstand the ravages of time much better than those of Universal offering.

Well I guess I was thinking after reading the text on the page that they made ALOT of different levers, with similar styles but gradually changing shapes etc over the years, the one in the pic is different than mine, but, mine could be some "other" Universal lever.....also looking at Randyjawa's last post w/ pics of the same levers w/ Universal calipers.....well......looks pretty convincing? Maybe, maybe not!

mark

Thanks for the post, the same levers for sure!

Never heard of a Maino though, but, now that I'm living Maine maybe I should track one down!

mark

atmo, Balilla was a superior brake up until 1961. The side pull Balillas I have that are the same era of the Universal 51s have a superior stopping power. I think the same for prewar Balilla and Universal.