Hi H. I haven't had time to follow the cricket - just been too busy at work and at home. Can relax for a few weeks now.
I bought a Sachs chain today, for my son's old ten-speed bike. The shop didn't have the SC 40 chain, so I had to take the 38 instead. They make different 'models' of chains, some are for the 8 speed cogsets. The design of the side plates seems to vary between the models of chain. I think they all are made to Sach's new design, where they have dispensed with the bush which used to sit on the rivet pin under the roller. The roller now sits, or rotates, on the lips formed by the extrusion of the side plates. You might have to push out a rivet with a chain tool to see. The roller will be 'floating' loose, held in place only by the 'lips' of the side plates. It's a great idea, as it makes the chain more flexible sideways for better, smoother gear changes. I seem to have heard the term 'bushingless chain' somewhere, many years ago, so the idea may not be entirely new, only Sachs have done a good job of it. I like to use their PC 1 chain, 1/8", on my single speed and hub-geared bikes - it seems to have less friction, is very smooth, and at only A$10 each, it's excellent value.
Sachs is/was one of the oldest cycle parts manufacturers in the world, if not the oldest, having started out late 19th century, and have numerous patents and clever ideas to their credit. In the sixties, the heir to the Sachs empire was a chap named Gunther Sachs, who married Brigette Bardot, lucky fellow. Later they were owned by Mannesman AG, makers of overhead cranes etc, but about one or two years ago were sold to a U.S. company, SRAM, who were well-known for their range of grip shifters, and other parts. Hence the range of Sachs parts is undergoing change/upgrade/etc, with new names and new marketing. For instance, the old 3 X 7 hub, 21 speed, has been re-designed, and is now known as the 'Dual Drive', because it has both derailleur and hub gears. (No, I don't recommend the Dual Drive for tandem use, but the 3 X 7 was O.K.). So it doesn't matter which factory makes the chains - it's all Sram now. Oops! I seem to have waffled on a bit much there, tsk tsk.
I have vee-brake mounts on my tandem, and a Sachs front drum brake (the wheels are small). Couldn't get a drum brake on the 3x7 hub, and the rear disc option is quite expensive. I've since met a couple with a Bike Friday Tandem, and they had the factory set up an Arai drum brake on the 3x7 hub. They must have turned a r/h thread on the left shoulder of the hub. The Arai drum is commonly used as a 'drag' brake for downhill runs, often operated by single friction gear lever on the bars. I'd like to operate both my front brakes from the one lever, hopefully without the twin cable setup from the lever. Just as soon as I can work out a floating balance mechanism...balanced brakes, mechanical or hydraulic, have been around on some motorcycles for many years.
Cheers.