I bought a Super Champion rear derailleur embossed ''Type Super Mondial'',
rather like a Simplex Tour De France. It came with the end of its original
carton which was date stamped 1951. I dont believe they were in business
much after this date. Osgears were still being fitted at that time also. I
have just acquired 2 Philbrooks (or possibly bootleg Gillotts)with Osgear
braze ons. The seller was an old gentleman who had had Bill build these
frames in 1951 while he (Bill) was still at Gillotts or possibly just after
he left. The lugwork is exquisite. Both had Osgear quadrants brazed onto the
down tube but John's had obviously worn out and had been removed on respray.
Both had had their chainstay change fork hangers removed. I can feel the
bumps where they used to be. The other sad things to have gone are the
lovely horns off the Stallard Osgear dropouts. In the bag of bits that came
with them are the wife's Osgear bits, her shoes and their cycling capes.
John's still has its Osgear, Durax chainset, Frejus brakes and Ambrosio
bars. Both have stems made by John when he himself worked at Gillotts from
1946 to 1948.
Mark Stevens Evanton Scotland