Ebay Listing For '50s Condor - 4-speed With Suicide Shifter

[bulldog1935]

too cool - he's asking $1600, seems like a pretty good buy (located in Texas)

 

[bulldog1935]

here's a nice 1949 Condor cordorino

 

[bulldog1935]

holy cow, what a tough audience

 

[Gasbag]

I've never seen that shifter set up before. Looks like the upper lever releases the axle to adjust chain slack while the lower lever moves the chain to the chosen cog. I wonder why they would choose such a crude method to build this bike when cable operated derailers were available. Looks positively dangerous to use at speed - I like it!

 

[bulldog1935]

the seller has removed his listing because of an error, and I believe the bike dates to early postwar -
here's the new listing - http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-5...0001&campid=5335809022&icep_item=112005284804
someone may get a good deal on this
here is a simple description of the mechanism on a blog or three
http://davesbikeblog.squarespace.com/blog/2007/6/24/suicide-shifters.html
http://www.bikeraceinfo.com/photo-galleries/derailleurs-1.html
http://davesbikeblog.squarespace.co...mbio-corsa-campagnolos-early-masterpiece.html
Looks like Campagnolo's Cambio Corsa shifter patent dates to 1940
but yes, you release the wheel, move the chain, pedal backwards to tension the chain and retighten the wheel

It didn't take long for (twin) cable operated derailleurs to replace this, though rod-operated front derailleurs stayed through the 50s on many bikes
http://davesbikeblog.squarespace.com/blog/2007/6/24/suicide-shifters.html

 

[Gasbag]

Good information. I was familiar with the front rod shifters but don't recall seeing the rear setup.

 

[bulldog1935]

here's a fairly authoritative listing, Peter Underwood of Classic Lightweights
http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/campagnolo.html
He dates the Cambio Corsa shifter to 1946 and states it was replaced by the Campy Paris Roubaix single-rod rear shifter in 1950 - I would bet the Condor fits in those dates.
(in 1952, introduction of the Gran Sport derailleur superseded them both)

http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/CampagnolooParis Roubaix.JPG
On Peter's website, Hillary Stone dates the Condor brand as beginning in 1948
A London company selling custom frames hand-built in Italy.

wow, the ebay listing is gone again - I wish he had a detail of the seat lug

 

[bulldog1935]

topped this thread with a link to a gorgeous photo album and a for-sale listing
It's a c. 1950 Pecorari 56cm, with Cambio Corsa shifter, ready to ride. He's asking $1550 plus shipping.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/68123172@N03/sets/72157628396291507

 

[bikewhorder]

Holy crap! And I thought down tube shifters were a PITA. Releasing the rear wheel while riding, what could possibly go wrong?

 

[bulldog1935]

It's still amazing how guys familiar with this contraption can make it look simple.

don't forget looking away from the road to see what you're doing behind you.

Campy saw the inherent flaws and two years later gave us the Gran Sport RD.

derailleurs before this were twin-cable, pull-pull - solved with a spring