Brivex was a brand of bicycles manufactured in Nässjö, Sweden. It is possible the company was owned by Martin Albin Bergegårdh. I believe that all Brivex bicycles were fitted with the 1934 Brivex derailleur system. I also believe that the Brivex derailleur system was also available as an after-market component.

The Brivex derailleur system is also associated with Bernhard Britz, a Swedish cycling hero who won numerous Swedish national titles and two bronze medals at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Bernhard Britz is, possibly spuriously, described as the 'inventor' of the gear in contemporary adverts - certainly not something that is supported by the patent records! However I have seen it suggested that the Brivex brand name was made up from the 'Bri' of Britz and 'vex' derived from 'växlar', the swedish word for gears. Unfortunately Bernhard Britz died in a cycling accident in 1935, shortly after the Brivex gear hit the market.

The Brivex derailleur system had a number of interesting aspects:

• It used a fork type changer as was the fashion of the time (although 1934 was early in the game - Super Champion's first fork derailleur appeared in 1933).
• This fork type changer was a rather nicely made springless item that was operated by a double cable for accuracy.
• The system does not include a cable tensioning arm. Instead the Brivex has a sprung chain. The chain has a spring running alongside it that takes up excess chain by 'zig-zagging' any section that is not under tension.

No commentary about Brivex would be complete without mentioning J.Wi.S. J.Wi.S manufactured a much more famous derailleur system that also used a sprung chain, and which was extremely derivative of the Brivex design.