Re: [CR] Early Simplex quick-release skewer

(Example: Production Builders:Peugeot:PY-10)

References: <d10.55146353.37b97026@aol.com>
To: <Stronglight49@aol.com>, <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2009 15:04:59 -0400
In-Reply-To:
From: <verktyg@aol.com>
Subject: Re: [CR] Early Simplex quick-release skewer


I just don't see all the fascination in these "death sticks".

In the 70s when a customer brought a bike in to our shop for service that had Simplex QRs, unless they were in perfect condition, we usually sold them a set of Atom QRs. They were cheap and they WORKED.

I saw a lot of failures in the lever mechanisms in the Simplex QRs. They had a poor design that was really flimsy.

Chas. Colerich Oakland, CA USA

Subject: [CR] Early Simplex quick-release skewer

This is the only illustration I have ever seen of a completely disassembled Simplex quick-release skewer. I scanned this from a page of the C.O.N.I. book "Cycling" (Rome, 1972).

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2605/3826331350_7199cfda2c_b.jpg

I was surprised to discover that the lever arm assembly was simply press-fitted down into the conical cap (referred to here as the "milled bushing") which is bored with a slightly larger inner diameter below the end of the slotted opening.

Of course, I now just had to take one apart... Yes, it is as just as basic as it looks in the illustration. And the "transverse pin" and "locking key" are just loosely assembled. Simple and effective.

Another mystery solved, I thought I would share this with everyone.

Cheers!

BOB HANSON, ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, USA