[CR]Need to ID MAFAC brakes/levers

(Example: Framebuilders:Masi)

From: "Richard Robinson" <vintagespoke@earthlink.net>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Sat, 11 Jun 2005 21:38:36 -0400
Subject: [CR]Need to ID MAFAC brakes/levers

Can someone explain which MAFAC brakesets came with the plastic bodied levers? I have only seen the metal bodies with "Racer" brakes but have found Dural forged brakesets with plastic lever bodies. Are the plastic bodied levers only for Dural forged brakesets found in the 60's? Did they come with other brakesets? Did the dural sets come with metal bodied levers as well? Are the plastic bodies considered lower end parts that only came with the Racer brakeset?

I have also heard of "open back" levers and levers with MAFAC engraved with a period between each letter? Does anyone have a time line for when these parts were available?

Thanks for the help.

Rich Robinson
Jacksonville NC