If anyones particularly interested, you can view all of the European and World patents via the UK Patent Office website ;
This link ;
http://gb.espacenet.com/
takes you direct to the search page where if you enter - simplex ets - as the company name you'll get a lot of the patents that belonged to them. Not just the patent numbers, but Adobe Acrobat compatible (small) PDF files of the full original patent text and drawings for free ! a word of warning though - It's compulsive viewing and reading. If you select the patent No. on the abstract page it will automatically download the first page (in PDF format) and give you the option to download the rest.
If you need a more comprehensive search, go to the bottom of the page on the above link and select the world patents database - or click on the Binoculars button that appears on the patent viewing pages.
You can also search directly by the patent No. - try this one GB685427 - A Free Lenton GP advert to the first person to tell me what is stamped on the front of the 'real' lever as shown in this particular patent.
And I'm sure of interest to all those surfin' USA guys out there - type in the company - campagnolo - and the inventor - tullio - on the detailed search page - you'll be there for hours.
Bob (sometimes cynical) Reid Stonehaven Scotland
p.s. Get your Brown Bros. CD now - you won't regret it !
p.p.s. Free Ken Denny - you know it make sense.......