Le Chemineau derailleur (2nd style)

The 1912 Le Chemineau derailleur was developed by Joanny Panel, based on a prototype built by Paul de Vivie. In many ways it defined many of the attributes of a modern derailleur. It has a guide pulley that moves in and out, moving the chain across a sprocket cluster, it has a sprung arm that provides chain tension with a tension pulley on it, and it was controlled by a single cable, working in opposition to a spring.

Eerily the centre to centre distance on the pulley arm is 75mm - a measurement commonly found today. The tension pulley has 10 teeth - another recurring theme.

Unfamiliar to us today are the ideas of mounting the derailleur on the underside of the chainstay, and of using a toggle chain to pull the derailleur along a rod - but both these ideas would have been totally mainstream as late as 1960.

This pleasantly weathered example is one of three in this collection. I think that this example dates from between the other two. Its pulley arm is round in cross section and has a 'D' shaped loop at the top to take the spring. However its other parts are very similar to my first example.

Derailleur brands: Chemineau
Themes: Who invented the derailleur?
Country: France
Date of introduction: 1912
Date of this example: unknown
Model no.: unknown
Weight: 446g including mounting plate but excluding toggle chain and spring
Maximum cog: 28 teeth?
Total capacity: 28 teeth?
Pulley centre to centre: 75mm
Index compatibility: friction
Chain width: 1/8”
Logic: low normal
B pivot: none
P pivot: sprung
Materials: steel

Le Chemineau (2nd style) additional image 01

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Le Chemineau (2nd style) additional image 04

Le Chemineau (2nd style) additional image 05

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Le Chemineau (2nd style) additional image 08

Browse associated documents.

Gaston Rivierre - 1931? postcard scan 1 of 2

Publisher: Random images of riders
Date: 1931?
Derailleur brands: Chemineau, Rivierre
Derailleurs: Le Chemineau

Gaston Rivierre - postcard scan 1 thumbnail

French Patent # 439,224 - Chemineau

Publisher: L’Institut national de la propriété industrielle
Date: French application January 1912
Derailleur brands: Chemineau, As, de Vivie
Derailleurs: Le Chemineau

French Patent 439,224 - Le Chemineau thumbnail

L'Auto 03/05/1914 - Le Championnat de la Polymultipliée

Publisher: L'Auto
Date: 3rd May 1914
Derailleur brands: Audouard, Chemineau
Derailleurs: Audouard 4 speed, Le Chemineau

L'Auto 04/05/1914 - Le Championnat de la Polymultipliée

Publisher: L'Auto
Date: 4th May 1914
Derailleur brands: Audouard, Chemineau
Derailleurs: Audouard 4 speed, Le Chemineau

Unknown French magazine 1918 - Chemineau ad

Publisher: Unknown French magazines
Date: 1918
Derailleur brands: Chemineau
Derailleurs: Le Chemineau

TCF Rev Mens 02/1919 - Chemineau ad

Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
Date: February 1919
Derailleur brands: Chemineau
Derailleurs: Le Chemineau

T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle February 1919 - Chemineau advert thumbnail

TCF Rev Mens 05/1919 - Chemineau ad

Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
Date: May 1919
Derailleur brands: Chemineau
Derailleurs: Le Chemineau

T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle May 1919 - Chemineau advert thumbnail

TCF Rev Mens 09/1919 - Chemineau ad

Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
Date: September 1919
Derailleur brands: Chemineau
Derailleurs: Le Chemineau

T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle September 1919 - Chemineau advert thumbnail

Le Chemineau - window transfer scan 1 of 2

Publisher: Chemineau
Date: 1919?
Derailleur brands: Chemineau
Derailleurs: Le Chemineau

Le Chemineau - transfer scan 1 thumbnail

TCF Rev Mens - 12/1920 La Bicyclette de Tourisme au Concours des Voges scan 3 of 3

Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
Date: December 1920
Derailleur brands: Audouard, Chemineau
Derailleurs: Audouard, Le Chemineau

T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle December 1920 - La Bicyclette de Tourisme au Concours des Voges scan 3 thumbnail

Desvages - leaflet 1920?

Publisher: Desvages
Date: 1920?
Derailleur brands: Chemineau
Derailleurs: Le Chemineau

Desvagues - leaflet (1st style) scan 1 thumbnail

TCF Rev Mens - 07/1921 Troisième championnat de la bicyclette polymultipliée

Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
Date: July 1921
Derailleur brands: As, Audouard, Boizot, BSA , Chemineau, de Vivie, Phillips, Sturmey-Archer
Derailleurs: Audouard, Boizot 4 speed, l’As, Le Chemineau

T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle July 1921 - Troisieme championnat de la bicyclette polymultipliee scan 1 thumbnail

Cycles de Route & Grande Tourisme “Le Chemineau”

Publisher: Chemineau
Date: 1921?
Derailleur brands: Chemineau
Derailleurs: Le Chemineau

Desvages - leaflet 1921?

Publisher: Desvages
Date: 1921?
Derailleur brands: Chemineau
Derailleurs: Le Chemineau

Desvagues - leaflet (2nd style) scan 1 thumbnail

Système “Le Chemineau”

Publisher: Chemineau
Date: 1921?
Derailleur brands: Chemineau
Derailleurs: Le Chemineau

TCF Rev Mens - 06/1922 Le Concours de Bicyclettes polymultipliées de Chanteloup

Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
Date: June 1922
Derailleur brands: As, Boizot, BSA , Chemineau, Matocq, Phillips
Derailleurs: Boizot 4 speed, l’As, Le Chemineau, Matocq

T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle June 1922 - Le Concours de Bicyclettes polymultipliees de Chanteloup scan 1 thumbnail

TCF Rev Mens 08/1922 - La Semaine d'Auvergne

Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
Date: August 1922
Derailleur brands: As, Audouard, BSA , Chemineau, Sturmey-Archer, Terrot
Derailleurs: Audouard, l’As, Le Chemineau, Terrot Modèle HT

T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle August 1922 - La Semaine d'Auvergne scan 1 thumbnail

TCF Rev Mens - 06/1923 Les résultats du 5e Championnat de la Bicyclette polymultipliée

Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
Date: June 1923
Derailleur brands: As, Audouard, Boizot, BSA, Chemineau, Sturmey-Archer
Derailleurs: l’As, Super As, Audouard, Boizot Tri-direct, Boizot 4 speed, Le Chemineau

T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle June 1923 - Les resultats du 5e Championnat de la Bicyclette polymultipliee scan 1 thumbnail

TCF Rev Mens - 10/1923 La bicyclette polymultipliée à Saint-Etienne

Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
Date: October 1923
Derailleur brands: Chemineau
Derailleurs: Le Chemineau

T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle October 1923 - La bicyclette polymultipliee a Saint-Etienne scan 1 thumbnail

TCF Rev Mens - 06/1924 Le 6e Critérium de la Bicyclette polymultipliée

Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
Date: June 1924
Derailleur brands: As, Audouard, Boizot, BSA, Chemineau, Cyclo, Peugeot, Sturmey-Archer, Terrot
Derailleurs: Super As, Audouard Le Crack, Boizot Le Montagnard, Boizot 4 speed, Le Chemineau, Le Cyclo 2 speed, Le Cyclo 3 speed

T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle June 1924 - Le 6e Criterium de la Bicyclette polymultipliee scan 1 thumbnail

TCF Rev Mens - 08/1924 La Semaine cycliste du Dauphiné

Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
Date: August 1924
Derailleur brands: Audouard, Chemineau, Cyclo, Peugeot
Derailleurs: Audouard, Audouard Le Crack, Le Chemineau, Le Cyclo 2 speed, Le Cyclo 3 speed

T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle August 1924 - La Semaine cycliste du Dauphine scan 1 thumbnail

Le Miroir des Sports 03/1925 - Le Championnat de la Polymultipliée...

Publisher: Le Miroir des Sports
Date: March 1925
Derailleur brands: Le Chemineau
Derailleurs: Le Chemineau

TCF Rev Mens 03/1926 - Chemineau ad

Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
Date: March 1926
Derailleur brands: Chemineau
Derailleurs: Le Chemineau

T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle March 1926 - Chemineau advert thumbnail

Opéra de Toulon programme 1928? Chemineau ad

Publisher: Opéra de Toulon
Date: 1928?
Derailleur brands: Chemineau
Derailleurs: Le Chemineau, Chemineau L’Izoard

Opera de Toulon programme 1928 - Chemineau thumbnail

TCF Rev Mens 02/1929 - Chemineau ad

Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
Date: February 1929
Derailleur brands: Chemineau
Derailleurs: Le Chemineau, Chemineau L’Izoard

T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle February 1929 - Chemineau advert thumbnail

TCF Rev Mens - 02/1930 Les derniers perfectionnements du Cycle scan 1 of 2

Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
Date: February 1930
Derailleur brands: Chemineau, Cyclo, Super Champion
Derailleurs: Le Chemineau, Le Cyclo, Super Champion

T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle February 1930 - Les derniers perfectionnements du Cycle scan 1 thumbnail

TCF Rev Mens - 06/1930 Poly... ou pas Poly scan 2 of 2

Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
Date: June 1930
Derailleur brands: Boizot, Chemineau, Cyclo, Terrot
Derailleurs: Boizot Le Montagnard, Le Chemineau, Chemineau L’Izoard, Le Cyclo, Terrot Modèle HT