This Dimosil derailleur seems to be associated with the Caloi 10, an iconic Brazilian drop-handlebar ten-speed in the classic 1970s style (can you hear the rattle of that chromed dinner plate spoke protector?). These Caloi ten-speeds seem to enjoy cult status in Brazil - and they are so strikingly horrible that I can easily understand why.
Luiz, writing from Brazil, tells the history of the Caloi 10 like this:
- The Caloi 10 was launched in 1972. It was initially fitted with a SunTour GT rear derailleur.
- In 1976 the rear derailleur was changed to a SunTour Honor.
- In 1978 Brazil's inflation rate hit 40%, and Caloi released the Caloi Sprint 10 to provide a cheaper option. This used a number of home produced components (chainset, brakes etc.), but intitally retained the SunTour Honor derailleur.
- In about 1983-85 Dimosil finally cracked and replaced the Caloi Sprint 10's SunTour derailleurs with Dimosil copies.
- The Caloi 10, and the premium version, the Caloi 10 Sportissima (produced from 1976 to 1980 with plenty of aluminium components) are good bikes, but the Caloi Sprint 10 was really awful.
This example of a Dimosil 'SunTour-style' derailleur is an earlier version with a grey p-pivot spring cover.
- Derailleur brands: Dimosil
- Country: Brazil
- Date of introduction: 1983?
- Date of this example: unknown
- Model no.: unknown
- Weight: 342g
- Maximum cog: 30 teeth?
- Total capacity: 28 teeth?
- Pulley centre to centre: 58mm
- Index compatibility: friction
- Chain width: 3/32”
- Logic: top normal
- B pivot: unsprung
- P pivot: sprung
- Materials: steel
