>>1551214the main point is that they have a medium profile
this gives them significantly more mechanical advantage than the low profile brakes that are common to bikes from the mid to late 90s
the later brakes require more precise adjustment and place more strain on the cables
the Nishiki Barbarian has medium profile cantilevers
their design is old more like brakes from the 1970s but they were made in the 1980s
the bike in your link has wide profile cantilevers common to high end bikes of the 1990s or of touring bikes from the 1970s
both use smooth post pads
these can be difficult as a single bolt control's so many adjustments across such a wide range
height, rotation, toe ,angle of engagement, and most importantly pad depth
the pad depth is vital on cantilever as the portion that the pad is mounted should ideally pointing strait up the moment the pads make contact
in more ideal conditions direct mount pads are superior because their limited range of adjustment allows them to be built much more robustly
smooth post pads can be abused in all sorts of ways in order to keep the brakes working well past the point that the pads or the bike wheel should have been replaced or rebuilt
