cudak888 

I've been looking at this thing at the LBS for close to three years; finally picked it up today (for an exorbitant $22, considering the limit stop threads have nearly cracked through - but they work):





That said - and I'd appreciate the help of the Simplex experts here - it appears to be a variant of the Simplex Alpha, but it doesn't follow the color scheme nor logo conformity of the Alpha models on Velobase (see link). The part number cast into the pulley cage is the same: 292.503.

Is this yet another variant of the Alpha, or a variant with a different name courtesy of the marketing department?

Take care,

-Kurt

Chombi

Here's an interesting link that explains some derailleur history for different brands including Simplex:
https://www.disraeligears.co.uk/Site/Home.html
That one you have seems to be one of the last RDs they made before Simplex went kaput with the painted finishes. This one looks to be a simple straight parallelogram design with a more blocky look/shapes than their earlier ones. It should shift OK but not as good as the slant parallelogram versions from them.
Only thing with these painted Simple RDs is I've never seen one with perfect paint yet. They are always very scratched up even the NOS ones seem to suffer from a lot of paint "shelf wear"

Chombi

cudak888 

His notes on the end of Simplex are notably limited; Velobase is of more help in this case - but what I really could use is a catalog, before I accidentally modify the Velobase page incorrectly.

It is a strange RD, no question about that. Geometry isn't like Nuovo or Super Record - even though the top pivot isn't sprung - and the parallelogram will sit absolutely parallel with the ground (bolt forward) if you don't turn the upper screw into the body. It's not a B-screw either; it's simply a limiter.

Otherwise, it sits quite normal - I mounted it to the '73 Paramount this evening:





We'll see how it performs. The matching white FD is also at the shop; didn't bother to look for it today - and I certainly wasn't going to pay $44 for the set.

The paint on this thing used to be pretty decent 4 years (and two shop moves) ago. It'll look better after I've cleaned the grime off the bare plastic.

-Kurt

realestvin7

I saw these a couple days ago.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-SIMP...item4ab159e141

Chombi

At least for Kurt's RD, it could be just a matter of a little bit of white touch up paint to make it look close to perfect again, It's harder fix damage clear anodizing in comparison, you pretty much have to take it all off and polish the metal.
Kurt, will you consider just stripping this Simplex RD and giving it a good polish instead??!

Ooops!' just noticed, those RD arms look to possibly be stell covered plastic, just like the ones on the SX610?
What are the pivots made out of then? I hope the seam I see on them does not denote plastic??....taking cues from Ofmega??

Chombi

Oregon Southpaw

Whoa, neat! Never seen one before. Looks like an imperial storm trooper hanging off the dropout.

Michael Angelo 

SSSHHHHH!! It's a Secret build. Kurt's " Lord Dark Helmet " Bike. He's even got a new outfit to match it.

cudak888 

The only thing that doesn't appear to be plastic are the parallelogram arms and inner cage plate (!)

Quite possibly. The upper jockey wheel isn't even serviceable; it's riveted from both sides to the pivot



It does, doesn't it? Quite neat, I must say...

-Kurt

Chef Bigs

So does that mean his Paramount will hit ludicrous speed?

cudak888 

Yes. It'll go to plaid.

-Kurt

Italuminium

It will surely do the kessel run under 12 parsecs now.