"Campagnolo trying to do mass-market derailleurs was a bit like the British Royal Family trying to do marital fidelity--it was never going to work because, although they knew they should do it, they considered the whole idea inherently beneath them."
So begins Michael Sweatman's page about the Campagnolo Nuovo Valentino extra derailleur on his site Disraeli Gears. He says it's about half-complete; I almost don't want him to finish it because so many of his entries leave me in eager anticipation of more.
His pages include his own wry commentaries, as well as photos and technical information, about derailleurs that have been made during the past 80 years or so. Disraeli Gears is arranged by models, brands, countries and decades, as well as by several of his own themes, such as the ever-popular "A Riot of Colour."
Now I'm going to answer the question some of you are asking: Yes, Disraeli Gears is named for the Cream album released in November 1967. According to Ginger Baker, the album got its name when Eric Clapton talked about getting a racing bicycle and Mick Turner said, "Oh yeah--Disraeli Gears."
My guess is that Turner was high when he made that remark. (For that matter, Clapton and Baker probably were, too.) I won't speculate on whether or not Sweatman was high when he wrote any of his entries (or whether he ever was). However, he does reveal one of his food vices in this entry.
Even if all you know about derailleurs is whether or not your bike has one, Disraeli Gears makes for a lot of interesting and entertaining reading.