Steve wrote:
> Any chance it could be a dynamo control, as seen on randoneuring and
> touring bikes? Typically, these are seen brazed to the top of the seat
> tube, and used to actuate a bottom bracket dynamo. Hard to imagine any
> other use for such a lever, except as a conversation piece!
in response to Jamie's question:
> > I had one of those left side only shift levers for years and could
> > never figure it out. This is first time that I have seen another. Mine
> > was was missing the lever it's self. I showed it to many knowledgeable
> > people and never did get to the bottom of it. If my memory serves me I
> > think that the clamp was too small to go around a down tube. I can't
> > remember what diameter it was though.
The answer has already been given by Stevan I believe. This lever was made for both the dynamo control as suggested by Steve as well as to work an add-on front cable operated front derailleur that was frequently added onto bikes with Cambio Corsa or Paris-Roubaix gears. You must imagine that when Campagnolo brought out their Gran Sport derailleurs, they made much of their previous components obsolete. In an attempt to lessen the blow, they came out with this gear lever for those who already had Campagnolo gear mechanisms and wanted to have the option of doubling up their available gear ratios. In much the same way, they also made drop-outs that had both the teeth for the two older gear systems and the gear hanger for the new derailleur. It made simple good marketing sense at the time. Close to 50 years later, it does however seem quite ludicrous.
Steven Maasland Moorestown, NJ
---