I've tried searching high and low; between here, google, campy-only.com, velo-base.com and haven't been able to find anything conclusive so here goes:

I've seen mixed literature on quality of Campagnolo (drop-bar) brake levers and also whether the have return springs. I'm building an early 80s Alan Super Record with Campagnolo parts from 80s to early 90s and i'm really trying to get to the bottom of what levers I want to get for my setup. I really like the idea of having something generation specific but really want the bike to feel as good as it will look and that means having a lever with a return spring.

I've look at some modern day interpretation levers like the TRL RRL retro or Cane Creek retro, but not really sold on either.

Btw, I have these brakes: https://velobase.com/ViewComponent.as...=117&AbsPos=20

TIA!

I've never had a Campy lever that didn't operate crisply whether squeezing or releasing the brake. This is 1980 NR to current stuff. What is it about a sprung lever that you like so much? I've never given it a thought.

Then you're going to need these. Athena brake levers, I use them with Super Record Calipers. No return spring in handle and none needed.

Vintage Campagnolo calipers have strong enough springs that you don't need sprung levers.

Campagnolo went through a few minor revisions of brake levers in the middle 80's.

The first "new" set was for the Colbalto brakes, white hoods, a slightly revised main body to allow "aero" or traditional cable routing.
The aero way required filing a mouse hole into the upper body at the provided point or drilling the bars, they also required the often lost guide plates that fit into ports above the cable anchor point. In the aero routing configuration there was a bit less mechanical advantage compared to the traditional cable route. There was no quick release provision.

Later they added a quick release button and revised the geometry a bit. The quick release was a small cylinder button on the side of the lever blade adjacent to the lever body. You need those. There were minor finish differences between the groups. No return springs.

Return springs in the levers were a design feature of other mfgs. first, and were coupled with weaker caliper return springs. This set up offers a bit faster release of the brake, but is really very minor. The overall spring tension you are squeezing against for systems designed that way may be less. Campagnolo adopted this but much later.

Yes, you can use some other brand of lever with a return spring, but keep in mind that you are squeezing two springs vs. one.
For me the primary need with those calipers is a quick release in the lever as there is none in the caliper.

I am trying to install retro chorus brake levers aero but hv no plates.how do i go about it.i might be able to get it made at the workshop if i hv the dimensions.the athena brakes looks nice ur bike.where do u place the plates.