[CR] ID Simplex components?

(Example: Production Builders)

From: <Stronglight49@aol.com>
Date: Mon, 31 Dec 2007 19:38:34 EST
Subject: [CR] ID Simplex components?
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org


These look like the worst, cheapest components ever made by Simplex. I would guess perhaps late 1980s - after the company went bankrupt, then re-organized - merging with Ofmega for a few more years.

In the first photo, note the cheap looking machine screw on the rear derailleur's cable clamp and the steel rear pulley cage back plate. Some of the body parts may be painted cast aluminum or just plastic. It is not even the superior dropped parallelogram which Simplex later adopted.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a10/EColnago/simplex001.jpg

In photo 2, the shifter appears to have a simple disc added - maybe to just make a "clicking noise" - a ploy to mimic real indexing, and are just very crude friction shifters with steel cover washers. Maybe the black disc was simply to stop the cable from slipping back. Again, maybe painted aluminum or maybe plastic.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a10/EColnago/simplex002.jpg

These are very sad looking, indeed.

Does anyone know the model or the actual age?

BOB HANSON, ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, USA

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