Re: [Classicrendezvous] Classic brakes Ballili and Weinmann

(Example: Framebuilding)

Date: Mon, 02 Oct 2000 17:34:57 -0400
To: "brian blum" <brianblum@hotmail.com>, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
From: "Harvey M Sachs" <sachs@erols.com>
Subject: Re: [Classicrendezvous] Classic brakes Ballili and Weinmann
In-Reply-To: <LAW2-F186FrwiZ9rWjA00008de5@hotmail.com>


At 09:02 PM 10/2/2000 +0000, brian blum wrote:
>Did the original Weinmann brakes copy Ballili(sp?) of Italy? The original
>Weinmann were almost identical, was there no patent or was there a
>licensing arrangement?

1) I believe the brand is "Balilla" but could be wrong. 2) In the early 60s, Weinnmann had a wonderful brake lever with a neat "red dot" QR. Push the dot, and the detent moved, and the brake opened wider for removing the wheel. Then the model disappeared. the later alternatives were, IMHO, much clumsier. The Urban Legend was that it infringed a GB patent. I'd suggest drawing your own conclusions about the similarity to Balilla...

harvey sachs
mclean va