When I was a bike mechanic in 1975-76, we use to dread working on plastic Simplex derailleurs and use to try to convince the customer to buy steel Shimano "Eagle" derailleurs instead.
At least the Eagle would last longer and perform better than the plastic Simplex derailleurs found on Schwinn low-end bikes... I remember many Schwinn frames that came in with twisted and broken Simplex plastic derailleurs - which was good for our business at that time!
Regards, Steve Neago
"Simplex derailleurs bring back twisted memories!"
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "feldman" <feldmanbike@yahoo.com>
> To: "garth libre" <rabbitman@mindspring.com>;
> <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> Sent: Sunday, December 02, 2001 10:02 PM
> Subject: Re: [CR]$1,300 Simplex vs Oddball long cage Campy Derailleurs
>
>
> > One of the "Dancing Chain" authors considers it and it's predecessor the
> 543
> > to be the ultimate rod-guided derailleurs; the best made for half-step
> > racing gearing before about 1960. I used to own one and a Record 61.
> > The Record 61 was set up on a bike and it shifted better than a Campy
NR;
> > much quicker to center and settle on a gear. I think that (forgive
> off-topic
> > analogy) Simplex going to plastic was like the Clash recording Combat
> Rock,
> > a huge mistake from which there was to be no recovery!
> > David Feldman
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "garth libre" <rabbitman@mindspring.com>
> > To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> > Sent: Sunday, December 02, 2001 5:26 PM
> > Subject: [CR]$1,300 Simplex vs Oddball long cage Campy Derailleurs
> >
> >
> > I am going to go out on a limb here by saying that the Simplex
derailleur
> > that just fetched so much on Ebay is a stunning piece of architecture.
It
> > not only expresses something special about the time it came from (much
> like
> > the rounded modern lines of refrigerators and cars of the time), but it
> > seems to be a well thought out design (aesthetically). Although it lacks
> the
> > beauty of allen head bolts that add so much to modern derailleurs, it
has
> a
> > sculpted look that betters most modern derailleurs. Does anyone know
> > something of the history of this piece? How well did it function, and
how
> > did it compare with others from the same period? It makes the rigged up
> > Campy long cage look artistically bankrupt by comparison. Any
information
> > about this fine Simplex would be much appreciated by me, along with any
> > insight as to why it sold so high. ("The Dancing Chain" is coming under
> the
> > tree for Christmas). Garth Libre virus free in Surfside Florida.
> >
> >
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