Drawing of finger D334-147 — Citroën DS selector body (28 October 1955)

In this document

This technical drawing concerns part D334-147 (with its variant D334-147a), an articulation "finger" belonging to the assembly D 334-010a entitled "Selector body with starter control contact" p. 2.

Dimensions and specifications

The part is shown in section ("SECTION A") with several precise dimensions:

• radius r = 14.8 (mark m5) p. 1-2
• diameter Ø3.75 mini (mark m7) p. 1-2
• dimensions 13.5 and 10 ± 0.25 p. 1-2

A form requirement is noted in the specifications table: the "out-of-parallelism of face F of the finger relative to axis XX = 1% max" (mark m6) p. 1-2.

A handwritten annotation specifies an assembly check: "1535 S" (the mark "1536 S" and the mention "fitting" being crossed out), with the instruction "no play (tight crossed out) after riveting" p. 1-2. This suggests a correction during manufacturing or quality control.

The correspondence table associates several cross-references: DS334-147 / DS334-147a (oriented right or left) with their counterparts DS334-52 / DS334-52a, and likewise for the versions D334-147 / D334-147a with D334-52 / D334-52a p. 1-2.

Administrative title block

The title block p. 2 specifies:

• Draftsman: Mr. Hovassapian, dated 28.10.55
• Industrialisation: Guyétant; Verification: Labo. Pompon; M.T.: Caneau; B.E.A.: Cadiou
• Mention "SHEET N° 1" and stamp "Société Anonyme André Citroën — Reproduction prohibited"
• Line of subsequent modifications: "m4 redone 24907", "m5 5/13-29/12", "253/07/65", "rai 06001", "m7 12A 29902" p. 2

Two other assembly diagrams appear on page 2, referenced 618 700, D334_100 and D522_6, representing the horizontal shaft and associated mechanisms (levers, spring, nuts) of the selector body p. 2.

Context

The "selector body with starter control contact" mentioned here refers, in the historical context of the Citroën DS, to the mechanism that combines the selection of the hydraulically controlled gearbox ratios and the electric starter switch — a peculiarity of the DS driving ergonomics, where the gear lever was associated with this function.

This drawing is dated 28 October 1955, three weeks after the official presentation of the DS on 6 October 1955. Paul Magès, who joined Citroën in August 1925 and was then deputy head of the Super-Control after a self-taught career in the design office (autobiographical notes), is the engineer behind the hydropneumatic suspension of this same DS (plans of 17 February 1944). This type of dimensioned drawing, with a quality control title block (draftsman, checker, laboratory), corresponds to the standard engineering practices of the Citroën design office (B.E.A.) in the 1950s, in which his work was embedded.

Archivist's perspective

This drawing, dated and signed on 28 October 1955 p. 2, documents a detail component — the finger D334-147 — within a larger assembly, the selector body D334-010a. It appears to be a precise manufacturing drawing, with tight tolerances (Ø3.75 mini, out-of-parallelism at 1% max), intended to ensure the interchangeability of the left/right versions ("Direct. à D" / "Direct. à G") of the part.

The handwritten correction visible on pages 1 and 2 (mark "1536 S" crossed out, mention "tight" crossed out) likely illustrates a tolerance adjustment decided after an initial assembly test — a concrete testimony to the iterative mechanical development work typical of design offices of the time.

This document is part of a coherent series of drawings in the same file, including plan DS334-07a of 25 November 1955 and the specifications D 334-07, which shed light on the development chronology of this hydraulic control assembly during the autumn of 1955, immediately after the commercial launch of the DS.