[CR]strange Simplex 80s front derailleur

(Example: Component Manufacturers:Chater-Lea)

From: "Feeken, Dirk" <dirk.feeken@sap.com>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]strange Simplex 80s front derailleur
Date: Mon, 11 Nov 2002 11:48:07 +0100

I just got the pictures of a NOS 80s Simplex derailleur set (front rear and levers) I wanted to buy, because I thought it was a LJ6600 set. http://home.t-online.de/home/dirk.feeken/simplex/ The pics now show that the rear derailleur is obviously a simpler one (decal lost) but more interesting is the front derailleur which hasn't neither a clamp nore is it made for the normal frame braze on but has to be screwed directly to the seat tube. It comes from a unridden Mercier frame which has such a thread in the seat tube. It's a simple threaded hole like the ones for the waterbottle holder. I've never seen this and can't use this front changer for myself. Was this a common feature on french mid class bikes or is this a super rare item? If somebody needs such a front derailleur I can forward the sellers name. The price for the whole set (with the famous retrofriction levers) will be somewhere between $50-$80 (still negotiating).

Dirk

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Dirk Feeken
Heidelberg
Germany