I think this is a beautiful example of an early drop-out mounting SunTour 888 Wide derailleur. It has a bijou enamelled name plate and lush chrome. I have seen an extremely similar version of this derailleur with the word ‘Iwai’ on its extremely similar enamelled name plate. Iwai was the company that initially made derailleurs for SunTour, but it went bankrupt in 1958 and SunTour brought derailleur manufacturing in house. I think this example was manfactured by Iwai.

The underlying design remains a version of a Huret Competition - albeit with very ‘touring’ dimensions and the top pulley concentric with the sprung pivot. The sprung pivot is a full 95mm from the hub axle centre.

Overall, it sets the tone for four decades of SunTour long cage derailleurs; it is strong, simple and well made.

• Derailleur brands: SunTour
• Categories: SunTour - pull-chain models
• Country: Japan
• Date of introduction: 1958?
• Date of this example: unknown
• Model no.: unknown
• Weight: 325g including integral hanger plate but excluding external chain tension spring and chainstay clamp.
• Maximum cog: 28 teeth?
• Total capacity: 28 teeth?
• Pulley centre to centre: 70mm
• Index compatibility: friction
• Chain width: 1/8”?
• Logic: low normal
• B pivot: none
• P pivot: sprung
• Materials: steel