The Sanko S series dominated the small, but influential, derailleur market in Japan in the 1950s. These were very conventional low-normal, pull-chain, derailleurs that were extremely derivative of contemporary French designs. However, as with all Sanko products, they were very well made and excellently finished - possibly surpassing the Gallic originals.

The S series was made up of 9 models that were christened following a simple set of naming conventions:

• If the letter is a single 'S', then it is a short cage derailleur, with a short main arm and a rigid (or non-existant) b-pivot.
• If the letters are 'SR', then it is a short cage derailleur, with a short main arm and a sprung b-pivot.
• If the letters are 'ST', then it is a long cage derailleur, with a long main arm and a sprung b-pivot.

• If the number is '1', then it is an axle mounting derailleur with a hanger plate with a, conventional, forward-facing slot.
• If the number is '2', then it is an axle mounting derailleur with a hanger plate with a rear-facing slot.
• If the number is '3', then it is a derailleur that mounts on a braze-on beneath the chainstay.

So, for example, an 'SR3' would be a short cage derailleur, with a short main arm, a sprung b-pivot and a mounting under the chainstay. You can see a full listing in Sanko's April 1964 advert in New Cycling.

All S series derailleurs shared the same sliding rod mechanism, although different rod lengths were used for 3, 4 and 5 speed variants. I believe that all S series models could also handle both 1/8" and 3/32" chain.

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I believe that this is a, very clean and lightly used, example of a Sanko ST1. It has the following features:

• It has sprung b-pivot. The main arm is long, at 77mm. The pulley cage, at 75mm, is also long. All of which makes it an 'ST' model.
• It mounts at the axle and the hanger plate has a forward facing slot - making it a '1' model.
• The tension pulley is steel and runs on a ball-bearings.

The pulley cage, with its offset guide pulley and 75mm length, would not look out of place on a Shimano touring derailleur from the year 2000.

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• Derailleur brands: Sanko
• Country: Japan
• Date of introduction: 1955?
• Date of this example: unknown
• Model no.: ST1
• Weight: 319g including hanger plate
• Maximum cog: unknown
• Total capacity: unknown
• Pulley centre to centre: 75mm
• Index compatibility: friction
• Chain width: 3/32" and 1/8”
• Logic: low normal
• B pivot: sprung
• P pivot: sprung
• Materials: largely steel

Ref. 1261