Re: [CR] The difference between Simplex Criterium and Prestige Front derailleurs 1970's

(Example: Framebuilding:Paint)

Date: Wed, 09 Jun 2010 14:00:44 -0700
From: "verktyg" <verktyg@aol.com>
To: bobhoveyga@aol.com, Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
References: <8CCD6208236E9D2-F0C-3F38@webmail-m021.sysops.aol.com>
In-Reply-To: <8CCD6208236E9D2-F0C-3F38@webmail-m021.sysops.aol.com>
Subject: Re: [CR] The difference between Simplex Criterium and Prestige Front derailleurs 1970's


Bob,

Simplex introduced a new front derailleur in 1970, the Super Competition model.

http://tinyurl.com/24rbm2w

It was a major improvement over the archaic push rod style Simplex front derailleurs but apparently was never promoted much by Simplex (another tribute to Lucian Juy's legacy).

The Super Competition front derailleurs started coming on some but not all PX-10s. I'm not sure when the change took place.

I've never seen one of these derailleurs on any other bike but a PX-10.

Simplex produced several other flavors of the Super Competition style front derailleur including this LJ A100 model with "windows" in the outside cage plate.

http://tinyurl.com/2czojst

The the broken derailleur pictured in your link appears to be an even later version of the LJ A100. It has CPSC "lawyer lips" at the front of the cage. Either that or it's an economy version of the later Super LJ style derailleur.

The Super Competition derailleurs had a tighter radius on the cages than the later Super LJ style (see picture in link above).

Simplex marketed 3 derailleur ensembles in the early 70s. These add confusion to the mix.

Super Competition Ensemble: Criterium rear derailleur, Super Competition front and alloy levers with plastic covers.

Criterium Ensemble: Criterium rear derailleur, Criterium push rod front derailleur and alloy levers with plastic covers.

Prestige Ensemble: Prestige rear derailleur, Prestige push rod front derailleur and plastic levers.

They used terms like "Luxe" and "Deluxe" in their descriptions of these ensembles which was probably picked up by copywriters doing bike catalogs.

It's difficult telling the difference between marketing hype and product description, especially translating from French to English.

The top 2 sets of derailleurs had chrome plated clamps and cable guides while the pedestrian (polite term for cheap) Prestige derailleurs came with cadmium plated parts.

One last thing in reference to Jay Dubiel's post on Simplex push rod front derailleurs, some Criterium front derailleurs had chrome plated actuating levers and cable clamps. I've also seen them with the same cadmium plated levers as the Prestige derailleurs.

Late model push rod derailleurs had recessed allen head bolts to hold on the front clamp (silk stockings on a rooster).

Chas. Colerich Oakland, CA USA

Bob Hovey wrote:
> Interesting. My dad bought a PX-10 a year or two after I did (I think his was a 1973 model, maybe '74) and it did not come with a pushrod FD like mine, it had a parallelogram type (but it was plastic and metal, unlike the LJ which was all metal). I was told at the time by several folks that this new derailleur was a Criterium... if that's not the case, what was it? Photo here:
>
> http://crossgeared.com/stuff/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/brokensimplex.jpg
>
> Bob Hovey
> Columbus, GA USA

Jay Dubiel wrote:
>>> The only difference between the "Criterium" and "Prestige" front
>
> derailleur is the front clamp plate and the button cover. All of the
>
> other parts are identical. In the 1974 French Simplex catalog the
>
> "Criterium" is described and translated loosely "....same
>
> as......presentation luxe (deluxe)" meaning that it had a chromed front
>
> mounting plate and an alloy cover button vs the "Prestige" which had a
>
> nickel (?) plated mounting plate and a red plastic cover button with the
>
> Simplex "S" logo. Attached is a link to a photo for those appreciate
>
> visuals.
>
> http://s517.photobucket.com/albums/u335/gypsybike/RESEARCH%20MATERIALS/?action=view&current=000asim4.jpg
>
> So, if you have a cracked Delrin body on your "Criterium" you can buy a
>
> "Prestige" (usually much less expensive) and swap your clamp plate and
>
> button.
>
> Jay "one who enjoys visuals" Dubiel
> Halifax, VA USA