Re: [CR] Q for Simplex Ologists ??

(Example: Events:Eroica)

From: "R.S. Broderick" <rsb000@hotmail.com>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:43:00 -0500
In-Reply-To: <BLU0-SMTP46D2AA0D1C66E2B8BE3D2C9C130@phx.gbl>
Thread-Index: AcoRMdp6KnOkHr3KRg+cpqCn3VrVNQABrQIgAAVNrbA=
Cc: gillies@ece.ubc.ca
Subject: Re: [CR] Q for Simplex Ologists ??


To clarify, there was an unfortunate typographical error in my previous post with respect to those designations apropos the cage used on post 1974 Simplex rear derailleurs wherein a "1" was written instead of a "T". The information should have read as follows:

3 - Type of cage:

CP - Cage axle centered between the pulleys (...racing gear ratios). T - Cage axle off-center between the pulleys. (...touring gear ratios). GT - Cage axle off-center with long cage arms (...grand touring).

Robert "letting his fingers do the walking" Broderick ...the "Frozen Flatlands" of South Dakota Sioux Falls, USA

-----Original Message----- From: classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org [mailto:classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org] On Behalf Of R.S. Broderick Sent: Thursday, July 30, 2009 1:17 PM To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Cc: gillies@ece.ubc.ca Subject: Re: [CR] Q for Simplex Ologists ??

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, Luddites of all ages, please allow me to take you back to a time before the advent of indexed shifting, prior to the proliferation of carbon fiber on all manner of bicycle bits - back to a "kinder gentler" point in time when life was oh so ... Simple(x).

You would be absolutely correct in noting that Derailleur le Simplex undertook a wholesale overhaul of their derailleur model designations coincident to the 1975 model year. This was primarily begot of the fact that they had begun to proliferate said model line up to a point where their previous part numbering scheme could no longer properly provide a descriptive context. The resulting reformulation of model numbers was intended to result in assignments that clearly articulated (...sorry, pun intended) the specifics of a given derailleur component ... ASSUMING that you had the corresponding cipher key.

So, without further adieu, here is your Rosetta Stone explanation of model numbers for Simplex derailleurs post 1974:

------------------------- FRONT DERAILLEURS -------------------------

EXAMPLE: SLJ A 5 2 2 1 2 3 4 5

1 - Refers to the type of derailleur (simple back and forth movement versus parallelogram) and defines place of model in the product line.

2 - "A" designation indicates that the unit is a "front" derailleur.

3 - Material composition of the derailleur

4 - Type of actuating cable:

0 - Cable with outer casing. 2 - Bare inner wire only.

5 - Type of chain guide:

2 - Standard guide for double chain wheel. 3 - Larger guide for triple chain wheel.

------------------------- REAR DERAILLEURS -------------------------

EXAMPLE: SX 610 T / P 1 2 3 4

1 - Refers to the type of articulation and defines place of model in the product line.

2 - Type of parallelogram.

3 - Type of cage:

CP - Cage axle centered between the pulleys (...racing gear ratios). T - Cage axle off-center between the pulleys. (...touring gear ratios). GT - Cage axle off-center with long cage arms (...grand touring).

4 - Mounting specification:

P - Employing a mounting bracket. SP - Mounting directly onto fork end without use of a separate bracket.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Having established this wonderful convention, Derailleurs le Simplex promptly went about wantonly violating same over the subsequent years with various of their product offerings (...albeit, primarily lower end models). As such, the aforementioned guide should be considered a general rule of thumb and NOT a rigid and inflexible document (...unless you want to drive yourself stark raving mad).

Robert "super secret Simplex cipher" Broderick ...the "Frozen Flatlands" of South Dakota Sioux Falls, USA

-----Original Message----- From: classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org [mailto:classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org] On Behalf Of donald gillies Sent: Thursday, July 30, 2009 11:22 AM To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: [CR] Q for Simplex Ologists ??

Robert Broderick's excellent catalogue collection has gotten me confused.

http://www.velo-pages.com/main.php?g2_itemId=20041 http://www.velo-pages.com/main.php?g2_itemId=20075

In the 1972 catalogue supplement and the 1974 catalog, I see pictures of the all-metal SLJ 5000 model (like Campagnolo Nuovo Record), but both catalogue pages say, "PRESTIGE SUPER L.J. AR. 615". In some other french-language catalogues, I see "SLJ 5000". Did Simplex have 2 different serial numbers for their L.J. derailleurs? If so, when did the numbering change (sometime in 1975?)

- Don Gillies
San Diego, CA, USA