It seems hard to comprehend that these instructions were printed in April 1942, just months after the horrendous Battle of Moscow and just months before the unimaginably bloody Battle of Stalingrad. If you needed proof that the Germans never quite grasped the idea of total war, you need look no further than this - allowing the conquered French to indulge themselves by casting precious aluminium, using copious quantities of precious energy, into their beloved derailleur gears.

But if the Huret Dural Competition hastened the demise of Nazi Germany by just one second - then hats off to it.

• Publisher: Huret
• Country: France
• Date: April 1942 (printers mark 4' 42)
• Derailleur brands: Huret
• Derailleurs: Huret Dural Competition