[Jim in Wisconsin]

How could hydraulic brakes multiply the force? The power comes from your leg pushing on the pedal, the result is the shoes pressing on the drums. If no other power source is used, how could there be any multiplication? There is no such thing as free energy. Extra leverage can increase the pressure at the shoes, at the expense of longer throw, but that can be done with either system.
There is less friction in a hydraulic system than in a mechanical one, other than that, they are about the same.
Henry said "The safety of steel, from pedal to wheel".
Well maybe it was some ad guy that dreamed it up, but Henry agreed. He fought against hydraulics for a long time, but finally gave in.