New Find Today

[Original Smith]

Today, I had the pleasure of seeing an original pair of 26-7 AC brakes. It's the second set I've seen in 58 years, and is what Jack Sunderlin used when he came out with the current Rocky Mountain Brakes. But there is one difference here. The CABLE is still attached to the brakes! Unfortunately the original equalizer pulley and clamp for the brake pedal is not with them. This proves they used a cable, and did not use a Bennett equalizer as used on the current offering. Wouldn't it be nice if people that make reproduction products copied what was used originally, instead of dreaming up something else? Just think, no welding on a tab to the brake pedal to make them work!

[Wayne Sheldon]

In some, probably rare cases, there could be infringement issues. But there really should not be. The patents almost certainly ran out decades ago! Copyrights could still exist, but would have needed to be renewed. Generally unlikely.
I agree, reproduction parts should look pretty close to the originals. Some minor variances to identify repros from treasured originals may be appropriate. With many things. I don't think that is even really necessary.

[Dan McEachern]

The only Issue I'm aware of with the original AC pedal to equalizer issue is that the rod from the pedal to the point where it passes thru the drive shaft bracket can be a challenge with regards to floor board interference. As Larry stated- the AC brakes attached the actuator rod to the brake pedal via a clamp on bracket that attached to the brake pedal right at the point where the pedal shank makes that right hand dogleg. It was designed to be an 'all pull" system rather than a 'push pull' system that the Bennet brakes used. I believe Bennet supplied a replacement brake pedal with the push tab.

[TonyB]

When I bought the Coupe in 1976, both Bruce and Howard insisted that I install auxiliary brakes. Indeed they told me to contact Jack as he offered a 10% discount to LBMYC members. So the brakes on the Coupe were purchased in 1977 from Jack. They came with a pedal without the cam but with an equalizer and steel rods. On my first Catalina trip in 1981(?) we had to reverse onto the barge down a ramp. That was exciting with RM brakes and no internal drum. I later found an original pedal and had an extension weld on so I could use the internal brake drum.
That how I remember the sequence of event, the brakes are still on the car today.