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
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