DISRAELI GEARS
The Cyclo Standard was the definitive touring derailleur for many decades. It started life as the French 1923 ‘Le Cyclo’, designed and manufactured by Albert Raimond. The design of the mechanism was said to have been inspired by machine guns that Raimond examined during the First World War. In 1932 the British Cyclo Gear Company was established by Raimond and Louis Camillis, and the Cyclo Standard was its first product.
The Standard mounts under the chainstay and is controlled by two cables. The cables rotate a sleeve with a helical groove in it on a shaft with a pin sticking into the groove. One cable pulls the sleeve one way, the other pulls it the other way. As the sleeve rotates the helix drives the sleeve along the shaft. The pulley cage is attached to the sleeve, with the top pulley concentric with the shaft. Chain tension is provided by a spring attached to the eye on the arm that is just above the guide pulley. The other end of the spring is attached to a clamp on the chainstay just behind the bottom bracket.
The Cyclo Standard was heavy and was fiddly to set up, but once properly installed, it was strong and reliable. It can make a decent claim to being the first derailleur that was a practical, commercial, mass-produced product.
You saw these derailleurs in use on tandems in the UK well into the 1970s.
Browse associated documents.
French Patent # 615,017 - Cyclo
French Patent # 615,017 - Cyclo
Cycling 27/07/1931 - BSA ad scan 1 of 2
Cycling 27/07/1931 - BSA ad scan 1 of 2
Cycling 11/12/1931 - The Rest of the Wheel Fare scan 1 of 2
Cycling 11/12/1931 - The Rest of the Wheel Fare scan 1 of 2
UK Patent # 457,480 - Cyclo Gear Company
UK Patent # 457,480 - Cyclo Gear Company
Cyclo Gear Care, Maintenance & Fitting Instructions
Cyclo Gear Care, Maintenance & Fitting Instructions
Cyclo Catalogue 362 page 17 - scan 18 of 42
Cyclo Catalogue 362 page 17 - scan 18 of 42
Cyclo Catalogue 373 page 18 - scan 20 of 60
Cyclo Catalogue 373 page 18 - scan 20 of 60
The Cyclist 03/1937 - Cyclo ad
The Cyclist 03/1937 - Cyclo ad
The Cyclist 09/1937 - Cyclo ad
The Cyclist 09/1937 - Cyclo ad
BSA - catalogue 1938 scan 2 of 3
BSA - catalogue 1938 scan 2 of 3
Cyclo Catalogue 382 page 19 - scan 21 of 60
Cyclo Catalogue 382 page 19 - scan 21 of 60
National Clarion Cycling Club - Handbook for Season 1938 scan 4 of 4
National Clarion Cycling Club - Handbook for Season 1938 scan 4 of 4
Motor Cycle and Cycle Trader 05/1939 - Cyclo Gear Company ad
Motor Cycle and Cycle Trader 05/1939 - Cyclo Gear Company ad
Motor Cycle and Cycle Trader 05/1939 - Derailleur Gear Specifications page ii - scan 1 of 2
Motor Cycle and Cycle Trader 05/1939 - Derailleur Gear Specifications page ii - scan 1 of 2
Official Prices for Cyclo Gears & Accessories scan 2 of 6
Official Prices for Cyclo Gears & Accessories scan 2 of 6
UK Patent # 576,947 - Cyclo Gear Company
UK Patent # 576,947 - Cyclo Gear Company
Le Cycle 10/1949 - image of Cyclo Standard
Le Cycle 10/1949 - image of Cyclo Standard
Cyclo - calling all Hub Gear users
Cyclo - calling all Hub Gear users
Holdsworth - Aids to Happy Cycling 1949 page 5, scan 7 of 24
Holdsworth - Aids to Happy Cycling 1949 page 5, scan 7 of 24
Care and Maintenance Recommendations for Cyclo Gears
Care and Maintenance Recommendations for Cyclo Gears
Cyclo - Spares Fixed Selling Prices 52/A scan 2 of 8
Cyclo - Spares Fixed Selling Prices 52/A scan 2 of 8
Cyclo Benelux Catalogue 628/G/S page 12 of 32
Cyclo Benelux Catalogue 628/G/S page 12 of 32
