Here's some photos of Simplex BO FDs variously badged Simplex, Gipiemme and Spidel plus one Italian Gipiemme FD for the more common FD BO.
http://picasaweb.google.com/
Kurt Sperry Bellingham Washington USA
2008/12/16 K.R. Bennett <kerriganbennett@comcast.net>
> There is a Simplex front derailleur braze-on fitting that looks like an H2O
> boss, except I think it's 6mm. Not sure if other French makers used the
> same format.
> See the fourth picture from the top here:
>
>
> http://www.gitaneusa.com/
>
> This has definitely been discussed on the list. Try the archives with
> simplex and braze-on as search terms.
>
> Best,
>
> Kerrigan Bennett
> Pleasant Hill, California USA
>
> Archive-URL:
> http://search.bikelist.org/
> Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2008 14:29:53 -0800 (PST)
> From: r cielec <teaat4p(AT)yahoo.com>
> Subject: [CR]French vs. Italian type front derailleur braze-on ?
>
> Ahoy !
>
> Thankfully, a list member alerted me to a difference between (among ?) Fren
> ch and Italian braze-on configurations for the front derailleur. I am assum
> ing the difference is substantial enough to prohibit mix-match of braze-on
> derailleurs to frames; hence, the alert. I assume also, that builders such
> as Hearse and Singer may have used custom fitments.
>
> Can anyone explain the difference or point me toward photographs of the Fre
> nch braze-on fitment ?
>
> All of this because I am seeking braze-on fronts.
>
> Thank you.
>
> Regards,
>
> Richard Cielec
> Chicago, Illinois; U.S.A.=0A=0A=0A