The Shimano Archery used Shimano’s first parallelogram design. Frank Berto refers to it as an ‘inexpensive copy of the Campagnolo Gran Sport’. Certainly it has only one sprung pivot and the pulley cage pivots exactly on the axis through the centre of the pulley wheels. However the construction reminds me more of the 1961 Campagnolo Sportman.

I like the use of colour, the massive adjustable outer cable stop and the general glossiness. In about 1966 I remember treasuring a plastic Sanyo transistor radio that was this exact red, and had the same confusing mix of shiny gold and silver detailing.

I am confused by the stop screw that restricts the rotation of the pulley cage (see the photos of the Shimano Archery-W)

This example is the ‘Wide’ version - it has a longer hanger plate with the word ‘Wide’ stamped on it and larger 10 tooth pulley wheels. These were Shimano’s concession to touring and were (I think) supposed to enable the gear to handle a 28 tooth rear cog. As with their pull-chain derailleurs, Shimano’s interest in touring was, at this early stage, half-hearted at best.

The adjustment screws have broken off this example.

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• Derailleur brands: Shimano
• Categories: Shimano - early parallelogram models
• Themes: A riot of colour
• Country: Japan
• Date of introduction: 1966
• Date of this example: 1967? (two letter code MI, 333 on the pulleys)
• Model no.: unknown
• Weight: 345g including hanger plate and the extravagant ‘protector’ nut, excluding broken-off adjustment screws
• Maximum cog: 28 teeth?
• Total capacity: 22 teeth?
• Pulley centre to centre: 46mm
• Index compatibility: friction
• Chain width: 3/32” and 1/8”?
• Logic: top normal
• B pivot: unsprung
• P pivot: sprung
• Materials: largely steel with bronze(?) parallelogram plates (they are chromed but not magnetic)