[CR]"Universal Extra" Brakes & Cinelli Dating

(Example: Production Builders:Teledyne)

Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2003 15:26:42 -0400
From: "Martin Needleman" <mrndlmn@toad.net>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]"Universal Extra" Brakes & Cinelli Dating

I've been told that Universal brakes have model numbers corresponding to the year of introduction. Unfortunately, mine are aluminum side pulls labeled "Universal Extra" on the right arm and "BREV. 453849" on the left.

Where do these fit in the Universal hierarchy and when were they introduced?

BTW, with reference to a previous post asking for help in dating a Cinelli model B, I now suspect a late '50s - early '60s date despite the fact that the BB shell does not sport an oil port. Was this port _always_ present on pre 1965 Cinellis? The manufacturing date range for the Ambrosio "Champion" bar and stem is 1953-1964; Campagnolo Gran Sport derailleurs were manufactured from 1951 to 1963 and I can't imagine anyone installing an Agrati cottered steel three arm chainset and quill pedals on a post 1965 Cinelli.

Martin Needleman
Annapolis, MD