Orient Bicycles 1893

[DebW]

Why are they called leotard pedals?

Leotard is just a brand of French pedals, as far as I know. Found on lots of French and other bikes in the 70s. Maybe my sentence didn't come out right, but I meant that the Reynolds 531 frame and fork, cottered steel crankset, modern bottom bracket, sewup rims, Ideal leather saddle, and pedals could all almost have been from the 70s (60s more likely). But the derailleur and 4-cog freewheel clearly are not. Simplex was the major derailleur manufacturer in the early 70s, but this one is of much earlier vintage. It has only one jockey wheel. There is a control chain like 3-speeds use that runs through the outer plate of the derailleur and attaches to the inner plate next to the jockey wheel. When the cable is pulled to shift gears, that chain slides though the hole in the outer plate and makes a 90 degree bend. OK, found the derailleur on a web site. It's a Simplex Champion du Monde from 1936-46.

[ridebikeme]

OHhhhh so interesting! Thanks so much for sharing Deb; I love looking at old bikes and their designs. Sometimes their thought process wasn't all that different than what is happening today.

Thanks again I loved this post!

[Melalvai]

Awesome, if I'm ever in the area I will make a point of visiting that museum. It makes me wonder what other museums feature bicycles.

[ehirsch83]

Those are amazing! The red tandem is gorgeous! Thank you so much for sharing. I hope, one day, to see them in person.

[bmccasland]

kind of makes me want to take one for a test spin. The museum would probably frown on that

Also reminds me of the Museum of Transport in Glasgow, Scotland. All sorts of wheeled things.

[Zen]

kind of makes me want to take one for a test spin.

I know!
Wonder what that Peugeot would feel like...?

[DebW]

kind of makes me want to take one for a test spin. The museum would probably frown on that

Also reminds me of the Museum of Transport in Glasgow, Scotland. All sorts of wheeled things.

I know!
Wonder what that Peugeot would feel like...?

That Peugeot would feel great, like any 531 frame with sewups. But only 4 gears and I imagine the shifting would be slow. The black tandem had rotten tires that almost felt like solid rubber, but I think they were just flat and so old they were extremely stiff. The red tandem had good tires and could have been taken for a ride. If you don't mind a tandem fixie.