"Is it wrong, or just French?"
Simplex seems to be the only "modern" era derailleur maker to use a control arm in front of the seat tube. The peculiar method of using the clamp hinge as a cable stop first appeared on the Super Competition LJ derailleurs that were used on early 70s Peugeot PX-10s. It was a drastic improvement over the Simplex pushrod style front derailleurs.
>http://tinyurl.com/yzyrxrf
I suspect that the front control arm may have been a throwback to the old "suicide shifters" with a mechanical control arm instead of cable controlled.
A tribute to Lucien Juy, the man who single handedly destroyed the French bicycle industry!
The rear control arm versions were probably a concession to the Campy style brazed on BB cable guides which were becoming popular by the mid 70s.
Chas. Colerich (with a collection of 30 French bikes) Oakland, CA USA
r cielec wrote:
> On Velobase.com, I saw two styles of Simplex Super LJ front ders. One with front control arm and the other with rear control arm.
>
> Is there any application or technical reason for the different locations ? Or, is it merely a model difference ?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Richard Cielec
> Chicago, Illilnois; U.S.A.