Re: [CR]Shimano Dura-Ace Timeline / effective search algorithms / catalogs

(Example: Production Builders:Tonard)

In-Reply-To: <p0623091ac0ffc6ce2201@[10.0.1.11]>
From: "R.S. Broderick" <rsb000@hotmail.com>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: Re: [CR]Shimano Dura-Ace Timeline / effective search algorithms / catalogs
Date: Thu, 10 Aug 2006 05:43:58 -0500
cc: CaptBike@sheldonbrown.com

The esteemed Sheldon Brown wrote:

<snip>

Actually, other early Shimano derailers were named for birds, notably the Lark and the Eagle.

<snip>

These derailers also featured a nifty Shimano invention that is no longer available, unfortunately. The anchor bolt was mounted on a spring loaded arm, so you could "preselect" a lower gear by yanking back on the lever if you accidentally got stopped in too high a gear. As soon as you would start to pedal, the spring would shift the derailer down to whatever position you had selected.

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Once again, you are absolutely correct with respect to Shimano's early Crane, Eagle, Lark "birds of a feather" naming convention (...kinda like the old Ford pony car theme what with their Mustang, Maverick, Pinto, et al). My previous comment regarding the origins and intent behind the Crane moniker, indeed, failed to also make mention its familial nature.

And as for some of Shimano's early rear derailleur designs having that spring loaded arm integral to the anchor bolt, my current errand / beater bike (...SlopCycle XIII) has a later and slightly "off topic" by a couple of years "Z" series unit which incorporates this same feature - often overlooked but very handy indeed for your commuter / errand / urban assault ride.

Robert "Sheldon's knowledge is vast, whereas mine is only half-vast" Broderick ...the "Frozen Flatlands" of South Dakota