that's great info! Thanks Chuck.
(BTW - he's riding a Girardengo, not a Lygie)
Aldo Ross
> Looks to me like Briek Schotte's Lygie is equiped with an Italian
> Simplex group.
>
> That group would be Simplex large-flange hubs made by FB (Italy) and
> Simplex derailleurs (Made in Italy). Simplex (Italy) chainrings,
> freewheel and chain. Front derailleur is clearly a Simplex Competition
> changer. Brakes look to be Universal (Italy), with the cut out lever
> bodies and Vittoria Giro hoods.
>
> The Italian Simplex was the group that Fausto Coppi used on his Bianchi
> for his TdF and GdI wins in 1949 and Freddie Kublers's victory in the
> 1950 TdF. Briek Schotte won the Pro Worlds in 1950 with Italian
> Simplex. Simplex's victories in all the major races in 1948, '49, and
> '50 were the motivation for Tullio Campagnolo's landmark Gran Sport
> derailleurs.
>
> I have a really beautiful reproduction of the Italian Simplex catalog
> from 1950 available on my website.
>
> Chuck Schmidt
> South Pasadena, California
> http://www.velo-retro.com