Classic & Vintage - Crazy Russian Derailler

Cheap enough if it shows up from Poland:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=250211028752&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=015

I'm allmost tempted to get one, that would be so cool.

Likewise, although I'm currently watching a Favorit set, and there's a set of Sachs Huret Rival levers that really take priority over pretty much anything else I'm looking at.

Ah, I bought one, what the heck!

Brand new? Never used? That must be one rough shop!

... and I thought my Campagnolo 980 looked ugly. :)

geez, that is one skanky-looking derailleur. So much so, it is kind of cool. I have had a terrible time getting stuff from overseas, lately, though. I ain't bitin'.

Reminiscent of their small arms, crude but effective!

Keep in mind that this was made in a country which still used vacuum tubes in the electronics of its military aircraft well into the '80's. Not to hijack the thread or anything, but that's why virtually all of the new tubes available for use in guitar amps come from former Soviet bloc countries, or China ... they were still making and using them - LOTS of them - right up until the end.

Let us know how that thing works out!

Don't you need to buy this thing too...(also ugly and old)

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Soviet-Bicycle-First-Aid-Kit-in-plastic-box1960_W0QQitemZ140164822700QQihZ004QQcategoryZ42319QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQtrksidZp1638.m118.l124 7QQcmdZViewItem

I used a Russian derailleur for awhile. Shifting was very secretive and I never knew what gear I was Putin it in!

And just think some of our(USA)most used Airports were still ordering those Vacuum tubes from poland in the 80s to use in their controllers computers!!!Makes you want to ride a bike.

I used a Russian derailleur for awhile. Shifting was very secretive and I never knew what gear I was Putin it in!

That's great!

Compare and contrast:

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o222/hpsworkshop/proshift.jpg

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o222/hpsworkshop/proshift.jpg

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o222/hpsworkshop/Russianderailleur1.jpg
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o222/hpsworkshop/Russianderailleur1.jpg

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o222/hpsworkshop/Rusianderailleur2.jpg


Cheap enough if it shows up from Poland:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=250211028752&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=015

the finnish is crude and the corners are squared off. thats about all is see that is simmilar

It was Lukers comment that set me out to find the Proshift photo:

>> geez, that is one skanky-looking derailleur. So much so, it is kind of cool. I have had a terrible time getting stuff from overseas, lately, though. I ain't bitin'.<<

Then the 'crude but effective' comment and then the 'vacuum tube' rant.

Point of the comparison is this: Like the Precision Billet derailler, the Russian RD probably won't work very well until you figure out how to finesse its cranky character ((The Proshift was notoriously hard to set up and also famous for losing every nut and bolt unless locktited (locktite'ned?).Once properly cajoled into perfect adjustment, the Proshift is widely regarded as one of the smoothest shifting pieces ever made )). Anyone whose ever made the foray into Russian cameras knows that theres always one guy, somewhere in the Ukraine, who knows how to trick this stuff into being great. And my interest is piqued by the idea of testing the Russian RD's compatibility with indexed shifting. The Russians typically made dated looking stuff that functioned within the realm of the more modern equivalent. Think Vacuum tubes in fighter jets.

If this thing indexes to 8 spd, a long shot I know, it'll be more than just a little cool.

Danny

very true. I acutally love the look of both mechs .

The Russian piece is certainly crude looking, but it may or may not affect the performance. Heck, it was $19. cheap enough for a laugh. No mounting bolt though it seems.

I'll bet if you asked any Russian official they would assure you that THIS was the original - from which Campagnolo simply copied the stolen Soviet design. :rolleyes:

It is a shame that Mikhail Kalashnikov never directed his engineering abilities to mountain bicycle components... they would never jam or break regardless of how much mud was caked on and could be easily broken down and rebuilt in the field with the simplest of tools and you could find replacement parts anywhere in the world. How sad that Shimano coined the term "Rapid-fire" shifters - that would have been a perfect segue from the AK-47. :D

Kewl... I want a AK-47 Gruppo....

We could add AK-74 for touring, and AK-M would be indexed... :D

In Soviet Russia, bike shifts you!

It would be great to ride/own one of the better quality Russian bikes, like these http://www.bikecult.com/works/archive/03bicycles/takhionV.html I have a Kharkov rear and front derailleur which I haven't used. The rear is a Campy NR knockoff but not as nice. The front is a Campy push-rod knockoff, again not as nice.

Think Vacuum tubes in fighter jets.


It may have been a deliberate choice, rather than just a holdover of old technology. Vacuum tubes are much less subject to being killed by EMP (electromagnetic pulse) than transistors, as might happen in a nuclear explosion. http://www.tubetvr.com/favtube.html

In this case, the derailleur is a copy of a Gian Robert, which was the worst of the boom era, Italian derailleurs. In fact, it looks pretty darn good next to a Gian Robert. It might even be better.

le gran pissour will be the freakin' bolt will probably be some size that is found nowhere else on earth..

So which Campy derailleur is this a copy of..?

somebody bought it...

i couldn't resist putting in an offer for $7, we will see how it works hehe

There were 29 available originally...

What the heck. I put in a $7 offer too, hope they take it.

There were 29 available originally...

wow i never noticed (maybe mine will have the fixing bolt)

wow i never noticed (maybe mine will have the fixing bolt)

For some historical background on this and other Russian derailleurs, as well as Campy and Simplex and Huret and so on.....

http://www.hadland.me.uk/schmitzderailleurs.html

Mine came today, somehow ariving from Poland undamaged in a way too large Tyvek (Tyveksky??) bag with minimal plastic padding. It seems to be pretty well made, it's far better made than say a 70's plastic Simplex mech from first glance.

At some point this year I'll see if it will work on a bike....

Well.........?

Did it arrive with the frame fixing bolt?

Danny

nope, looks just like it did in the auction. no bolt.

Mine came today, somehow ariving from Poland undamaged in a way too large Tyvek (Tyveksky??) bag with minimal plastic padding. It seems to be pretty well made, it's far better made than say a 70's plastic Simplex mech from first glance.

At some point this year I'll see if it will work on a bike....


That's good news, haven't seen mine yet...

Please post pics once you guys mount them on a frame!

mine came in the same fashion, also not damaged (it's a rugged little piece) but a coworker saw it and immediately bought it from me...so, no pics. I didn't have any real purpose for it, anyway, just bought it as a curiosity. Can't say what metal it's made of, seems a tad heavy for aluminum, might be a zinc alloy.

Got mine today, seems to be aluminum, no bolt. Kinda quaint in a crude sorta way. "Campagnolo copy" is accurate if you only saw one once from a distance at speed then rushed to the shed to try and duplicate it from memory!