there were some 'spoon-end' Gipiemmes (made by Simplex) that were indeed retrofriction...but if you check out the last shot on this page from velobase, you'll see there are also non-RF shifters with the same spoon ends but no provision for the RF spring mechanism (friction only).
So, guess there are both types out there.
http://www.velobase.com/ViewSingleCo...m=104&AbsPos=1