I think Warren's right, I typed 'quadrant' into Google image
search, and on the first page was images of navigation quadrants and
a S-A shifter from Sheldon's site, they're a very similar shape.
There's also a Triumph Quadrant, a four-place bicycle, and this
interesting history page http://www.rijwiel.net/
Roy 'any bicycle swap meet is better than sitting at home' Drinkwater Lititz 'cold & snow?', PA
>I suspect they are called quandrants due to their resemblence to the
>navigation tool of the same name. Is the sky divided up into
>quadrants...any trained mariners out there?
>
>Warren Young
>Toronto
>
>
>>
>>By the way, anyone know why they are called "Quadrant"? That seems to imply
>>4-speed, eh?
>>
>>Mark Bulgier