Greg,
Yes, Simplex made their front derailleurs in both clamp-on and braze-on varieties. Both the SJ and SLJ series were available in double and triple chainwheel varieties. However, true to the French habit of doing things different from everyone else, the braze-on derailleurs would only go on a peculiarly distinctive mounting system that used a water bottle holder braze-on. They are not at all interchangeable with the more common Italian-style braze-on mounts. As far as I know, Simplex never made a front derailleur compatible with an Italian braze-on mount. I have seen a number of Simplex front derailleurs on ebay that use the "French mounting," and maybe a couple of Gipiemme badged Simplex derailleurs. I'm sure they exist, but good luck finding an Edco-badged one. If your frame has the Italian mounting system for the front derailleur, I'd break national tradition and put a good old Campagnolo Nuovo Record right there next to the Stronglight crank, but I would shift it with a Simplex retrofriction shifter!
Galen Poole
Jackson, MS
> Calling all Francophiles! I have an Edco badged, Simplex LJ front
> derailluer with the clamp type of fitting. I have a frame ready that has
> a braze-on front derailleur mount. Did Simplex make a braze-on style
> derailleur in this series?
> Attacking the braze -on with a grinder is out of the question as the
> combined frame/group will be unusual and unique. The LJ fixtures cannot
> be changed like you can a NR/SR derailleur.
> If such a beast exists, does anyone have one they want to sell or trade
> - or is there some machine-shop procedure that will solve this 'curly
> one'?
> Greg Softley
> Coffs Harbour
> Australia