The Simplex Grande Tourisme was the the venerable Simplex Route Léger updated for the post-war world.
It is a little difficult to be certain exactly what the improvements were but they might include:
- In 1947 the first Grande Tourisme appeared. It is possible that the changes were only that the main cylinder was reduced in diameter from 18mm to 16mm and that the pulley cage arm became slightly wider.
- In 1948 it is possible that a small hook was added at the tension pulley bolt, to allow the pulley cage to be hooked up onto the chain tension spring to aid removal of the rear wheel.
- In 1950 Simplex may have briefly offered a model called the 'Grand Tourisme à détension' that allowed you to detension the chain at the time of shifting. Thankfully, I have never even seen a picture of this benighted object.
- Possibly in 1951 the writing on the pulley cage arm was changed from 'SIMPLEX MADE IN FRANCE' to 'JUY SIMPLEX MADE IN FRANCE'. At this point the symmetrical pulleys were replaced with Simplex's signature assymetric pulleys. These two changes brought the Grand Tourisme into line with Simplex's new Rigidex models.
- Production of the Grand Tourisme probably ended in 1954.
I think that this is an example of a Simplex Grand Tourisme, from about 1951, with a 'collier fixe' chainstay clamp-on mounting mounting. The inner pusher plate is labelled '4 vit ch. 3' indicating that it is a 4-speed model for 1/8" chain. Some of its other features are:
- The component holding the bell crank is a simple steel 16mm cylinder with a steel band around it. It has a branded protective/decorative cap.
- The cable is clamped at the bell-crank using a grub screw.
- The guide pulley has a separate pusher plate on each side, joined by struts. These pusher plates cover an arc of about 180 degrees.
- There is a pivoting lever attached to the outer pulley cage plate to accept the chain tension spring.
- The pulley cage arm is 65mm long.
- The writing on the pulley cage arm is 'JUY SIMPLEX MADE IN FRANCE'.
- The assymetric pulleys are black and were originally round.
Note that the pulley cage arm on this derailleur is highly chromed, whereas the mounting plate has some duller finish (nickel plating?). This mix and match was typical of derailleurs of the period. Your local bike shop would often assemble the derailleur you need, fitting it to the mounting plate of your choice.
- Derailleur brands: Simplex
- Categories: Simplex - bell-crank models
- Country: France
- Date of introduction: 1951?
- Date of this example: unknown
- Model no.: unknown
- Weight: 282g excluding the chain tension spring and clip
- Maximum cog: unknown
- Total capacity: unknown
- Pulley centre to centre: 65mm
- Index compatibility: friction
- Chain width: This one takes 1/8” chain
- Logic: top normal
- B pivot: none
- P pivot: sprung
- Materials: steel
Ref. 1874
