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Frenchbuilt

The Simplex will probably go for the price of a fine used car and the other
for the price of a fine used bike.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Derailleur-Jui-Simplex-61-Export-/150738295388?pt=FR_JG_Sports_Cyclisme_&hash=item2318b3da5c#ht_167wt_76

and

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Derailleur-Nivex-neuf-pour-Rene-Herse-ou-Alex-Singer-/150734976277?pt=FR_JG_Sports_Cyclisme_&hash=item2318813515#ht_500wt_1257

Its like a Hemi Challenger convertible which no one wanted to buy for 4800$ new but wished they did now that they go for 1.500,000$ today.

Simplex is actually still around but disguised as Valeo (Dijon) and in same building (look on google street view) So, they can jump on the retro repro craze and produce old Juy 61 export derailleurs.

Every part is available NEW for a 1970 Challenger including original rust and general crud. There is even a guy who worked on the assembly line
with a colored inspection crayon marking up here and there AND he is ready to come and remark your car after restoration which is totally insane but true and $$

Sorry, recent economic slump has killed prices, 1 million$ seems to be the going price now.

Dan

verktyg

The Simplex 61 was the most advanced rear derailleur on the market for one year because it had spring loaded top and bottom pivots.

It was Simplex's answer to Campagnolo's rear all metal derailleurs. Campagnolo only used a spring on the bottom pivot until the late 80s.

Campy Gran Sport derailleur from the era.

The dual sprung pivots were why (when new and properly lubed) even the bottom line Simplex Prestige derailleurs worked better than the top of the line Campagnolos.

Unfortunately Simplex in collusion with Peugeot started making these in 1962 using DuPont Delrin plastic. This eventually set the stage for Simplex's demise.

1962 Simplex Prestige 532

Quote from the Disraeli Gears web site:

http://www.disraeligears.co.uk/Site/Simplex_Prestige_derailleur_%28532%29.html

"In 1962 Lucien Juy, the boss of Simplex, made one of the most radical decisions in the history of the derailleur industry - he decided to make his entire derailleur range from a new wonder material - plastic. He did not do things by halves - instead of dipping in a toe and using the odd plastic part - he jumped in up to his neck and made the entire parallelogram - both knuckles and both parallelogram plates - out of polyoxymethylene (which Du Pont branded as ‘Delrin’). It was a bold, dynamic, modern and, ultimately, disastrous move."

This all led to the ubiquitous Simplex Prestige derailleurs of the Bike Boom!

Voilà

Frenchbuilt

Simplex may have lost it with derailleurs but they made keys and ignition systems for most of the French automobile industry. All of my cars here have Simplex keys and ignitions. (now Valeo safety Systems in the same factory near Dijon)

The mix of plastic and metal only hurt them in derailleurs but was very innovative and hightech especially when seen on super advanced Citroens.

The photo shows a replacement part by Valeo but Simplex is still marked on the box. The keys say Simplex on them.

They almost closed several years back because of relocation pressures but now seem fine and produce very sophisticated material.

Dan