I think I was responding to the wrong question earlier. Simplex, and maybe some Huret shifter cables had the same type of end as Campy, only slightly smaller. Modern cables are easily filed for these. Reading more carefully, the ones we are discussing had a different type end, which was indeed on one end of "universal" cables In The Day. Sorry for the confusion.
Jerry Moos Big Spring, TX
Doug Fattic <fatticbicycles@qtm.net> wrote:
Dan Kasha wrote:
> I am doing the final touches on an old Peugeot City Bike that
> I have (PX45 I think). It is 5 speed, with a Huret Svelto
> derailleur and shift lever.
>
> A standard derailleur cable does not fit in the lever. The
> cable is expecting a pill shaped end with the axis of the
> pill perpendicular to the cable. I have never seen such a
> derailleur cable. Is this a standard or readily available
> item? Or do I file down what I have to fit?
Yes, this cable end is quite different and non-interchangeable with the current standard, and don't bother trying to file a current style to fit either, you need the real thing. They were so common, ubiquitous even, through the 70s and maybe into the 80s, that you should be able to find one. Look for a cable called "universal" - those came with the Huret-type on one end and the Simplex/Campy type on the other end - you had to cut one end off in order to use it.
Mark Bulgier Seattle WA USA
You can consider it on topic because these are the cables you need to restore old Chicago Schwinns. Adding to what Mark wrote is that J&B Importers (a wholesale distributor with warehouses throughout the states) still sells these cables made specially for Huret and Schwinn Approved gear controls. They look like a lollypop on the end of the cable. The J&B order # is: 1457
Your LBS can order these for you if they have an account with J&B.
Doug Fattic
Niles, Michigan