During the 1950’s Simplex successfully ignored the superiority of the parallelogram design, and churned out endless variants of the pull-chain derailleur. But by 1960 it had become clear that even a company with Simplex’s marketing power would have to move with the times.

Amazingly given his scepticism about the parallelogram derailleur, Lucien Juy designed this marvel, the Simplex Juy Export 61 (a snappy moniker if ever there was one). It is a beautifully made derailleur with two sprung pivots, quality fittings, excellent finish and fine touches - such as pulley wheels with two part bronze bushings and interesting thumb-wheel adjusters.

Given the choice between this and the 1963 Campagnolo Record, I would take the Simplex any day - a sentiment shared by Sanko and Shimano - who adopted many of the features of the Juy Export 61.

• Derailleur brands: Simplex
• Categories: Simplex - the Prestige story
• Country: France
• Date of introduction: 1961
• Date of this example: unknown
• Model no.: unknown
• Weight: 263g including hanger plate
• Maximum cog: 28 teeth?
• Total capacity: 21 teeth
• Pulley centre to centre: 46mm
• Index compatibility: friction
• Chain width: 3/32”?
• Logic: top normal
• B pivot: sprung
• P pivot: sprung
• Materials: steel

Ref. 111