Re: [CR] Simplex "Retro-friction" bar-end shifters?

(Example: Component Manufacturers:Chater-Lea)

Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2008 09:37:04 -0600
From: "Mitch Harris" <mitch.harris@gmail.com>
To: Stronglight49@aol.com
Subject: Re: [CR] Simplex "Retro-friction" bar-end shifters?
In-Reply-To: <c43.38c15639.3621ae1f@aol.com>
References:
cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org

On Sat, Oct 11, 2008 at 1:22 AM, <Stronglight49@aol.com> wrote:
> Am I missing something?
>
> I've recently seen a couple of different listings on
> eBay for what was described as Retro-Friction
> bar-end shifters. But, to me they appear to be the
> very basic simple friction control levers made by
> Simplex during the 1960s & 70s, complete with the
> same basic black rubber lever covers over the same
> standard levers.
>
> Is there some unique mechanism concealed within
> SOME of these factory levers which I just had
> never encountered?
>

Not in my Simplex bar-end shifters. Just simple friction, and I've never seen any Simplex bar-ends that are otherwise.

Sounds like the usual ebay viral information static where people get used to associating the word "Simplex" with the word "retrofriction" because of the famous down tube shifters.

Mitch Harris Little Rock Canyon, Utah, USA, where snow is falling heavily