Originally Posted by
Oldpeddaller
certainly interesting and unusual Skyerocker. The Svelto was actually the most common rear mech on entry level European bikes in the 1970's, and the cheapest to buy in the shops, however it was very efficient and robust in use. The bike looks very similar in frame and equipment to the "Tensor" 10-speed that I was given a few years ago. That was made in "West" Germany and assembled and marketed in Tyneside UK, probably made in the same German factory?
Interesting point regarding the Svelto: In the U.S. it definitely wasn't very common, actually very few Huret (other than the ubiquitous Allvit, most often seen as "Schwinn Approved") derailleurs got much market share. SunTour headed them off big time starting around 1972. In the U.S., the usual formula for a European $100.00 10-speed was: seamless steel tubing, Simplex Prestige derailleurs (occasionally Huret Allvit or Campagnolo Valentino depending on national origin), unbranded steel cottered crank, German three-piece steel hubs, Rigida steel rims, Mafac/Weinmann/CLB/Universal centerpulls (again depending on national origin), Ava/Pivo alloy stem, steel bars, whatever cheap rat trap pedals.