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1934 CYCLO "The ideal variable Gear" information!

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Slick4d4d

Finally riding a big boys bike
I'm posting this cool find as a reference for anyone out there who may be looking for info on these vintage gears. And to see any bikes that may be using them!

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Fantastic gears, and probably the first reliable derailleur system.
Originally a French invention in 1924, they founded a British arm of the company, as illustrated by your wonderful catalogue above, in 1932.
I have a first generation 2-speed version, but it's not fitted on a bicycle.
If you interested in early gear systems, the 'Disraeli Gears' site is very useful and informative:


Henri Desgrange (founder of Le Tour de France) infamously forbade the use of derailleurs in the race until 1937.

His words:

"I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailleur? We are getting soft... As for me, give me a fixed gear!"

I am now well over 45, I think it's time I embraced the derailleur perhaps.
 
Fantastic gears, and probably the first reliable derailleur system.
Originally a French invention in 1924, they founded a British arm of the company, as illustrated by your wonderful catalogue above, in 1932.
I have a first generation 2-speed version, but it's not fitted on a bicycle.
If you interested in early gear systems, the 'Disraeli Gears' site is very useful and informative:


Henri Desgrange (founder of Le Tour de France) infamously forbade the use of derailleurs in the race until 1937.

His words:

"I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailleur? We are getting soft... As for me, give me a fixed gear!"

I am now well over 45, I think it's time I embraced the derailleur perhaps.
Do you have any pictures of yours you could share?
 
I'm sure you've checked the site I mentioned above @3-speeder, but if you haven't, there is some information on your 'Rota' example.
Including the US patent they applied for in 1935.
They were apparently one of the first exporters of derailleurs to the USA.
 
Do you have any pictures of yours you could share?

Unfortunately its currently dismantled as I've used the mounting bracket section and the lower sprocket and modified them to form a chain tensioner for my 1920's 'Elan' elliptical chainring system on a project.
I've modified it in such a way that it can be returned to original spec. should I ever find the correct 'Elan' tensioner.
 
Prior to WWII, the derailleur and the internal gear hub fought for supremacy, with the internal gear hub generally having the edge in most applications up to the mid-1930s. Reliability was an issue for derailleurs early on, whereas the hub gear had a headstart and had been reliable for many years. But that supremacy was eroding, even in the years leading up to WWII. The post-WWII period, and particularly the 1950s saw the derailleur surpass the internal gear hub. Even by the late 1950s, companies like Raleigh (hub gear country certainly) were moving their better road bikes to derailleurs. The Cyclo is the classic derailleur system, and the ones from before WWII are particularly collectible.
 
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