The Crimson Star was a cheap, basic and surprisingly effective copy of a Cyclo Benelux Mark 7 pull-chain derailleur. It had the (typical of Cyclo) un-sprung b-pivot that allowed it to be swung out of the way when removing a wheel, it had simple plastic pulley wheels much as we use today, and it could accept 1/8” or 3/32” chain.

The Crimson Star also has a fantastic name - sharing the honours with the SunTour Love for the best model name of any derailleur (the SunTour Skitter and the Shimano Pecker are just plain silly).

If, as a young apprentice, ‘Red Robbo’ ever cycled to Longbridge this is surely the derailleur he would have used.

• Derailleur brands: Resilion
• Themes: A riot of colour
• Country: UK
• Date of introduction: 1958
• Date of this example: unknown
• Model no.: unknown
• Weight: 255g including hanger plate but excluding drop out bolt
• Maximum cog: 24 teeth?
• Total capacity: 10 teeth
• Pulley centre to centre: 60mm
• Index compatibility: friction
• Chain width: 1/8” and 3/32”
• Logic: low normal
• B pivot: unsprung
• P pivot: sprung
• Materials: steel