I've never seen true retrofriction Simplex bar ends but have several of the standard friction variety as shown in the catalog photo link provided by Jay.
One that wants an exceptionally fine bar control set can brew their own using the bar control pods available from Rivendell (Diatech, I think) to mount the braze-on model Retrofrictions. Far better than any friction or power ratchet that I've experienced.
Charlie Young
Honey Brook, Pennsylvania USA
>I think there are at least two different types. The type used in the 60'
> s, including I think by Tom Simpson, who seems to have favored barcons,
> wer
> e very similar to the Campy barcons at the time. relatively slender
> straigh
> t levers, typically with blue hoods. I don't have a pair of these, but I
> 'm pretty sure they are pure friction. The pair I am holding in my hand
> have beefier, slightly curved levers and black hoods. I haven't torn the
> m apart to see how they work, but they definately have more resistance
> when
> shifting to a larger cog than when shifting to a smaller one, but like Ret
> rofriction DT shifters.
>
> Regards,
>
> Jerry Moos
> Big Spring, Texas, USA
>
> --- On Sat, 10/11/08, Eric Goforth <eric.goforth@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> From: Eric Goforth <eric.goforth@gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [CR] Simplex "Retro-friction" bar-end shifters?
> To:
> Cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> Date: Saturday, October 11, 2008, 12:17 PM
>
> Phil Brown wrote:
>>
>> On Oct 11, 2008, at 12:22 AM, Stronglight49@aol.com wrote:
>>
>>> Am I missing something?
>>>
>>
>> Yup. They're just about the best bar end controls made. Very smooth
>> and positive. I've had them on a couple of bikes and I've got an
> NOS
>> set-complete with demultiplicator ready to go. Campys can be made to
>> work as well but it required a deft touch with a T wrench and just the
>> right amount of Phil Oil. Suntours rank third with me because of the
>> ratchet. If you get them you will need a 7mm socket to install them.
>> French, don't you know.
>> Phil Brown
>> Sunny and crisp this morning in Berkeley, Calif.
>>
> So they do have a spring inside them similar to the downtube shifters?
>
> --
> Eric Goforth
> Durham, NC, USA