Simplex models are bewildering, especially in the SLJ era, when they had a whole lot of models of essentially identical design, the only difference being various combinations of alloy, steel and Delrin used in the construction. Even when the same two materials, or all three materials were used, they could vary in exactly which parts were made of which material. But I believe the Simplex models properly referred to as SLJ were "all" alloy. That is all except the Delrin jockey wheels, steel (I think) cable clamp bolts, and steel (I think) pivot bolts. I could be wrong about the pivot bolts, but I think they were always steel, not alloy. Never heard of a Simplex with Ti pivot bolts, or any Ti bits, for that matter, although Huret of course did use Ti. But then, with Simplex, who really knows?
One thing that is confusing about the SLJ is it often came with a plastic cap with a very small hole in the middle covering the pivot bolts. Anyone know exactly what the cap was supposed to do, other than get in the way of installation and removal? Only thing I can think of is maybe it theoretically kept dirt from getting between the pivot bolt and the derailleur body, in which case it seems to me neither effective nor necessary, unless maybe one rode cyclocross regularly.
This multiplicity of similar Simplex models did catch me out a year or two ago, when I bought on UK eBay what looked like a nice Super LJ at a bargain price. When I received it it turned out to be mostly steel construction. Still not a bad price, just not such a bargain. There was not deceipt in the listing, I just made the bad assumption it was all alloy. Moral of the story - it's very hard to tell alloy from steel in an eBay photo.
Funny thing, a I had outbid a guy in UK for it, and he emailed me saying he HAD to have it as the last missing bit on a special bike. He offered to pay a nice profit over what I paid, plus my shipping from UK and shipping back to him in UK. I told him this was a less expensive mostly steel model which I didn't think justified shipping to and fro cross the Atlantic. Instead, I put him in touch with a UK list member who I knew had an actual SLJ, or at least a mostly alloy model, available for a similar price without the need for multiple ocean crossings. I believe the list member accomodated him with a better model at a lower delivered cost.
Regards,
Jerry Moos Big Spring, TX
"Cheung, Doland" <CheungD@bv.com> wrote: Did they ever make these with black alloy upper and lower pivots? Or are the pivots still delrin with alloy parallelograms? I've only seen all silver SLJs. Unless this is a newer Prestige?
Doland Cheung
SoCal