abarth

Humm.... Why so much?

https://cgi.ebay.com/Simplex-High-fla...3%3A1|294%3A50

cudak888 

Two words. Japanese buyer.

-Kurt

(Edit: This was supposed to be sarcasm)

Picchio Special

Kurt,

Frankly, that's not warranted. There were two bidders who went at it hammer and tongs - took two to tango, in this case. And we don't know if both were from Japan. Quite possibly one or both were not. Let's shy away from simplistic explanations, tempting though they may be - especially if the item in question is rare (and I honestly don't know if it is, in this instance.)

unterhausen

it always takes two idiot bidders to pay too much on ebay (not necessarily the case on this auction, who knows?)

One idiot bidder can't run the price up. Of course, that's what shill bidders are for.

rotharpunc

why does everyone get up-in-arms lately if someone mentions the buyer is likely Japanese? They are known for bidding crazy high on vintage French stuff. Lately it seems like people are taking this a a racist remark or something.

miamijim

Why are they idiots? Because they bid it up to a price you cant afford? A seller had a product 2 buyers were interested in for whatever reason. Good for the seller because he made alot of money. Good for the buyer because he can complete a period correct restoration. The guy who do the period correct restorations are preserving history and should be commended for it. Heck, I know one guy who freaked for 6 months because he wanted patina'd cable hangers. I know another guy who put more monet into a PX10 restoration thatn its ever going to be worth. And its the finest PX10 I've ever seen.


Because it implies all the wrong notions. It implies the Japanese are the only ones paying high prices which in turm implies they're stupi for doing it. It implies they're locking everyone else out of the market. Its just stupid.


BTW.....I'm done with this thread. I try to avoid internet sillyness.

iab

Oooooooooooo.... NOS Simplex 3 piece high-flange hubs, with rubbers. Nice. Not as nice as my FBs .


If you have the money and don't have the hubs, why wouldn't you spend it?

Amani576

With flat levers at that. Pretty uncommon nowadays.
-Gene-

robatsu

That was sort of my impression of one of the bidders in this on.

Also, my wife is Japanese, as is my son. Nobody around our household is nursing any grievances about what a bunch of white/western vintage bike collectors think about the ebay habits of Japanese collectors of french bike parts.

Hard as it is to believe, the universe doesn't revolve around us always. Unlike a lot of other cultures/identity groups, east asians don't look at all to traditional western culture for validation or redress - actually, they sort of look at us as primitives to be admired for some aspects of our innovation/energy. But they really don't give a rat's *ss what we think of them. So stereotype away about ebay buyers, nobody in Japan is getting their feelings hurt. I guarantee you that with 100 percent certainty. I also guarantee you that the typical Japanese believes stereotypes about you that are far more pernicious/obnoxious/pervasive than anything you would ever admit to believing about anyone based upon their identity group membership.

Isn't that a liberating and refreshing change from the usual victim group stuff to which we must usually genuflect?

cudak888 

Of course - it was supposed to be humor. Dry joke.

-Kurt

abarth

So, nobody has a sure answer as to what make those hubs so special? From the descriptions it is chrome plated steel body.

Suttree

They look super cool. Simplex is a classic manufacturer. Maybe somebody who
has plenty of kizash just wants it that bad. It doesn't seem to be warranted based
on quality. You could build a phil wheelset for that--

banjo_mole 

I'm so done with this thread right now. It could get ugly in here.

mkeller234

Interesting perspective.

stronglight

They are lovely hubs in quite remarkable conditioning considering even the white plastic outer wing nuts are still present and in very good condition - many had cracked or were lost during the past 40+ years. They are very much like FB or early Campagnolo hubs of the 1950s and may even have been produced by FB to be marketed by Simplex (which was never known for their own hubs, only skewers). They were considered top end parts and this appears to be an example seen on one of Jacques Anquitil's bikes of the late 1950s or early 60s: https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3349/...0cf8483c_o.jpg

The winning bid does not seem all that excessive for this pair which is really far less common then the similar Italian hubs. Has anyone seen a similar set of Campagnolo hubs in equally nice condition AND complete with the early "dog bone" end nuts sell on eBay? I would think the prices of those would be similar or even greater and this would not raise so many eyebrows just because they carry the more generally valued marque. I think there has been a broad prejudice against French components since the 1970s when the strong dollar made affordable French bikes seem as disposable as cheap Japanese transistor radios in the 1960s. Every piece has to be considered individually. And, there are collectors for every oddity (Don't smirk about my extensive Elvis on black velvet artwork collection!).

The French collectible preferences of some of the more familiar Japanese bidders is pretty common knowledge. From what I have seen on a few Japanese websites, some of the serious collectors are quite discriminating and their component collections are very impressive indeed. I am very appreciative of their knowledge on the subject and also their consideration for sharing their insight into the fine distinctions between some of the often only rarely seen pieces. I would much rather see a truly uncommon collectible piece go to someone in Japan who can value and cherish it's rarity and beauty than have it passed on to a fleeting enthusiast in California with an excess of disposable income wanting only a shiny curio to use as a paperweight and conversation piece for his office. Of course, both of these cultural generalities which I just presented are undeserved simple stereotypes, with yet one more tilt. The winning bidder (if Japanese) may just turn around and instantly double his investment in Tokyo, and a US bidder may have been desperately seeking such a hubset to complete a cherished personal restoration for many years.

This is a hobby for us all. If I collect Volkswagen rag-top vans and you collect only rare vintage Bugattis or Ferraris, we are still consumed by a similar appreciation for the shiny manufactured goods within our common field of interest. More the better to each have our own peculiar niches.

... I still hate you for having more money than I.

iab

As stronglight alluded to, they were made in the 50s, probably by FB. FB also made the exact hub for Campagnolo. The Simplex ones are not as common, the last set I saw on ebay was over a year ago. The condition was not as good and IIRC, they were in the $450 neighborhood. Looking at the spoke holes, they have never been ridden and I doubt they have ever been tensioned. The rubber parts are in perfect condition for 50 years. Well worth whatever someone is willing to pay.

dbakl

They're old, uncommon, good condition and the perfect piece to complete someone's bike build. Its nice to see someone in the world can still afford their fantasies.

Grand Bois

I've seen the price of Simplex parts rise steadily over the past few years. The SX series derailers I used to pick up for $5-$10 are now going for $85 on ebay. Those fragile plastic wing nuts for the QR's can cost you dearly. I had to buy a pair of rusty QR's for $30 just to get the wingnut I needed. I've seen the QR's go for $100 with no rust but no wingnuts.

unterhausen

didn't say the people involved in this auction are idiots. There are people on ebay that pay too much for some things, particularly things you can go buy in a store.

Finally looked at the auction. Had a flashback about those skewers. Pretty sure my first bike had skewers very much like that. It was a Gitane light touring bike.

abarth

Thanks stronglight. Wow over a $1000 now and 2 more days to go.

unterhausen

Anyone know about shipping small items from ebay auctions to Japan? I have some small parts that will probably go to a Japanese bidder. I have family there and shipping it to them and having them forward it has crossed my mind.

Homebrew01

What's the point of adding an extra step ? I've sold a few components to Japan without issue.

Iowegian

For small packages to Japan just use USPS. It's quite easy and not expensive. There may be duty required to be paid when the package arrives so make sure your buyer is aware of this and agrees to pay any custom charges, etc. Then just go to your LPO (local post office), fill out a small form and it's gone.

Rabid Koala

I sold a similar set with solid axles and wing nuts to a Japanese bidder a year ago for a little north of $600. No shill bidding involved. I used the proceeds toward my Waterford Paramount. The hubs were on a junky Olmo with a bent frame I bought for $120. I didn't even notice the hubs until I got the thing home.

Bianchigirll 

I should get my C Record HF cleaned up. they must be worth a million atleast LOL