Hiroshi Nakamura claims the 3.3.3. was the first Shimano parallelogram model, introduced in 1965. Personally, I think this honour belongs to the Shimano Combi 12, but my evidence is all hearsay.

The Shimano 3.3.3. used Shimano’s first parallelogram design. Frank Berto refers to it as an ‘inexpensive copy of the Campagnolo Gran Sport’. Certainly it has only one sprung pivot and the pulley cage pivots exactly on the axis through the centre of the pulley wheels. However the construction reminds me more of the 1961 Campagnolo Sportman.

I am confused by the stop screw that restricts the rotation of the pulley cage (see the photos of the Shimano Archery-W)

This example is the ‘Wide’ version - it has a longer hanger plate with the word ‘Wide’ stamped on it and larger 10 tooth pulley wheels. These were Shimano’s concession to touring and were (I think) supposed to enable the gear to handle a 28 tooth rear cog. As with their pull-chain derailleurs, Shimano’s interest in touring was, at this early stage, half-hearted at best.

Thousands of miles of chain wear have fashioned the pulley wheels on this example into deadly, razor sharp, ninja shuriken throwing weapons.

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• Derailleur brands: Shimano
• Categories: Shimano - early parallelogram models
• Country: Japan
• Date of introduction: 1965
• Date of this example: 1967? (two letter code MD, 333 on the pulleys)
• Model no.: unknown
• Weight: 345g including hanger plate and the (slightly broken) extravagant ‘protector’ nut
• Maximum cog: 28 teeth?
• Total capacity: 22 teeth?
• Pulley centre to centre: 46mm
• Index compatibility: friction
• Chain width: 3/32” and 1/8”?
• Logic: top normal
• B pivot: unsprung
• P pivot: sprung
• Materials: largely steel with bronze(?) parallelogram plates (they are chromed but not magnetic)