The Shimano Skylark was Shimano’s take on the 1961 Simplex Juy Export 61. The Skylark has two sprung pivots, it is steel with no structural plastic parts, it has the pivot of the pulley cage offset from the axis of the pulleys and it works very well. Shimano called this combination of attributes their ‘Servo-Pantagraph’ design, and, despite this, it sold so well that they never looked back.

This example is the mid 1970’s version of the Shimano Skylark. It has redesigned pulley cage plates and stop, and reduced depth to the parallelogram plates. It also has the classic embossed outer parallelogram plate with that zany 1970’s typeface.

It is Japanese made and has fantastic build quality and chrome for what was, at the time, Shimano’s cheapest derailleur.

• Derailleur brands: Shimano
• Categories: Shimano - from Skylark to world domination
• Country: Japan
• Date of introduction: 1972
• Date of this example: unknown (no two letter date code, and has ‘3.3.3.’ marking on pulleys)
• Model no.: D160 or 52104011
• Weight: 313g including hanger plate
• Maximum cog: 28 teeth
• Total capacity: 28 teeth
• Pulley centre to centre: 54mm
• Index compatibility: friction
• Chain width: 3/32”
• Logic: top normal
• B pivot: sprung
• P pivot: sprung
• Materials: steel