Originally Posted by
terrymorse
Some of the other older manufacturers, off the top of my head:
Dia-Compe, still operating today
Simplex, one the first derailleurs
Zeus, Campy-ish components
Huret, derailleurs
All those names ring a bell, but I don't remember them being around much compared to Shimano, Campag and Suntour. I guess I'm not quite old enough! I started cycling in the 70s, but It would have been the mid-80s before I started taking notice of component brands. My first road bike had Suntour mechs and my first proper build had the very first Shimano 105 group. I’ve got a vague feeling that my first derailleur bike as a kid in the 70s had Huret gears.