DISRAELI GEARS
Ryobi Ltd is a Japanese engineering conglomerate, based in Hiroshima, that manufactures many things, from printing machinery to power tools. One of its claims to fame is the 'One+' system, which allows you to use the same rechargeable battery unit in a massive range of different power tools and gardening equipment.
In the 1980s, Ryobi also manufactured fishing tackle and golf equipment. This would have put it into direct competition with Shimano - and perhaps as a consequence of this it either considered manufacturing derailleurs, or actually did so. The reason that this last sentence is so vague is because there is lots of evidence of an expensive and very well developed programme of derailleur development - including an extensive series of patents over a period of 3 years, and a Design Patent registered in the USA etc.. But I have been unable to find any evidence of actual derailleurs.
Perhaps Saddam Hussein used Ryobi as a model for his WMD programe.
see also Japanese Patent # S57-201785 - Ryobi 1981
see also Japanese Patent # S57-201785 - Ryobi 1981
see also Japanese Utility Model # S57-200487 - Ryobi 1981
see also Japanese Utility Model # S57-200487 - Ryobi 1981
see also Japanese Patent # S58-156475 - Ryobi 1982
see also Japanese Patent # S58-156475 - Ryobi 1982
see also Japanese Utility Model # S58-139293 - Ryobi 1982
see also Japanese Utility Model # S58-139293 - Ryobi 1982
see also Japanese Utility Model # S58-139294 - Ryobi 1982
see also Japanese Utility Model # S58-139294 - Ryobi 1982
see also Japanese Patent # S58-170681 - Ryobi 1982
see also Japanese Patent # S58-170681 - Ryobi 1982
see also Japanese Patent # S59-2986 - Ryobi 1982
see also Japanese Patent # S59-2986 - Ryobi 1982
see also US Design Patent # 283,415 - Ryobi 1983
see also US Design Patent # 283,415 - Ryobi 1983
see also Japanese Patent # S60-261789 - Ryobi 1984
see also Japanese Patent # S60-261789 - Ryobi 1984
