"Universal
(Italy) brakes were around pre-WWII. Not sure if they
were making aluminum alloy versions pre-war (I have seen late-30s
Bianchi with them, but don't know if the alloy ones were put on the bike
by the owner at a later date). There were #51 (alum. side-pull,
early-50s), #61 (alum. center-pull, early-60s), #68 (alum. side-pull,
mid-late-60s). The #61 was their response to the Mafac Racer
center-pull, and the #68 was their answer to the Campagnolo side-pull.
Universal's model designations
correspond to the year of introduction. Universal top models were
always considered "Pro-quality.
"
Here's an
approximate time line on early models:
mod.35 -
1935 (side pull)
mod.39 - 1939 (side pull)
mod.50 - 1950 (side pull)
mod.51 - 1951 (side pull)
mod.61 - 1961 (center pull)
mod.68 - 1968 (side pull)
From
Chuck Schmidt on the Classic Rendezvous mailing list:
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