Vintage Components - Weinmann Brakes
Weinmann brakes on this page: 605 rear caliper w/Clark's brake blocks | 605 rear caliper | 500 sidepull caliper set | 500 front caliper | 730 sidepull front caliper | 810 long-reach rear caliper | Symetric caliper set | Cyclocross 420 Cantilever Brakeset
Weinmann tourist brake levers are posted here.
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Weinmann was a Swiss bicycle component manufacturer that began making parts in 1933. Based in the northern Switzerland town of Schaffhaussen, the firm was incredibly successful in supplying European and American bike companies (in the U.S., notably Schwinn) with their core products: side- and center-pull brakes. Weinmann also made cantilever brake calipers, rims and cranks. Though a Swiss firm, Weinmann had factories in Switzerland, Belgium, West Germany and the USA.
Because their brakes were very well-designed and made as well as competitively priced, it seemed that nearly all mid-range bikes from Europe (except some French and Italian makers, who chose Mafac or Universal) came with Weinmann brakes.
It's hard to exactly date the firm's demise, but with the shift of production of consumer bikes to the far east as well as Weinmann's basic failure to update its product, its end was inevitable. Some time in the early 1990s Weinmann ceased to exist. The brand was taken over by the Belgian Alesa Group and then by the Dutch Rigida group in 1997. Production was then moved to China. All over our stock is vintage European production.
The side-pull calipers came in different reaches, 500mm for close-reach bikes with no fenders as well as 730, 810, 890 and 1020 mm reach. I've read of 400s, but never seen them. There was also a Weimann dual-pivot "Symetric" caliper made in the 1970s, which we have in stock.
Weinmann 605 standard-reach rear brake caliper with Clark's brake blocks. Used, $35.00
This is a first-generation Weinmann 605 with incised lettering and a metal front cap nut on the center bolt. The calipers were made this way from 1978 into the early 1980s.
Front view. The wheel guides are standard on 605 calipers
Side view
From the back.
Weinmann 605 standard-reach rear brake caliper. Used, $30.00
- This caliper has a replacement adjusting barrel, not the original 605 piece
- This caliper has inset black labeling with rounded brake pad holders. We date it to the mid-1980s
Front view
Side view
From the back
Weinmann 500 side-pull brake front & rear calipers with quick release. $35.00
Part# BR-55
- Probably produced in the early 1980s, but hard to date them exactly.
- These calipers have a minimum brake-pad reach of 43mm and a max of 56mm
These are simple, effective stoppers
Close-up
The quick-release is simple
These calipers were made in West Germany, back when there was a West Germany
Weinmann 500 side-pull front brake caliper. Used, $20.00
- These calipers have a minimum brake-pad reach of 43mm and a max of 56mm
Weinmann 500 side-pull front brake caliper #1. Used, $20.00
- Probably produced in the mid-1980s, but hard to date them exactly.
Front view
Top view showing mounting hardware
Weinmann 500 side-pull front brake caliper #2. Used, $25.00
Front view
From behind
Weinmann 730 side-pull front brake caliper. Used, $30.00/each
Note: To be used as a front caliper the pads must be turned around so the that open side of the holders face to the rear.
The back of the caliper
This caliper is made in Switzerland
Weinmann 810 long-reach rear brake caliper. Used, $30.00
The cable routing on this caliper is set up for a mixte or step-through frame, but the housing stop and cable anchor bolt are easily switched to work on a standard diamond frame.
Front view
From the side
The back of the caliper
Weinmann Symetric brake calipers, standard reach. Used, $80.00/set
- These are dual-pivot calipers that are a profound improvement on the Altenberger Synchron brakes, which were probably the first dual-caliper brakes made.
- Weinmann produced these calipers in the mid-1970s.
- These calipers have a maximum reach of 75mm.
- It has been asserted that Altenberger and Weinmann collaborated on this design.
- Nutted centerbolts
Here's the pair.
From the back.
Here's a close-up of the front caliper
The back of the front caliper.
The front caliper from above.
Here's the front of the rear caliper
The back of the rear caliper
The rear caliper from above.
Weinmann Cyclocross 420 Cantilever Brakeset. Used, $175.00/set
- In the first picture below, the lower pair of mounting bolts is original.
- New cross straddle cables.
- The levers have quick-releases in them.
- We carry Cane Creek compatible non-aero gum brake lever hoods.
The brake set. There is just one original lever hood. The lower pair of mounting bolts is original.
The backs of the calipers
Side view of the brake levers. Note the levers have quick-releases in them.
Full side view
The levers turned over to show their other sides.
Front view of the levers
The backs of the levers, showing their bar clamps.
Looking inside one of the levers.
The straddle cable and yokes
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