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The 50s Sturmey Fixed ASC hub is the old one. They're odd, not really like riding fixed due to a slight but very noticeable (for a regular fixed rider) lag between pedaling a the hub kicking in- a little like a slack chain. I had one for a while, quite fun but I couldn't get on with it, so sold it on as they're rather desirable to some.folk and people (Americans often) will pay good money for them . No idea what the new ones are like, maybe you will have more patience with it. Apparently the even earlier Sturmey TF two speed hub is much better, has a more direct feel and better rations, but they don't come up often at all
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No idea what the new ones are like
Like the old ones by the sound of it, early days for me but I expected it to be like this; gear change must be reasonably well considered (not dissimilar to your normal S.A. hub) and it's not a total fixed gear experience (track standing is a bit of a pain for instance)... close enough though and so far I'm not disappointed.
It's a fixed 3 speed Sturmey Archer hub.
I think they existed a long time ago (1950s maybe? Saw one at a jumble once) but I don't believe they were very commun. Then SA re introduced the SX 3 during the "fixie" years. It wasn't cheap, heavy, people were criticising it's ratios, the slack chain feel... It didn't catch. I'm sure there will be peeps on here who would have tried it / have more knowledge...
I got the hub NOS at a really good price on eBay (would not have paid its full cost from where it's still available at, for my use at least). For me it's a last attempt at commuting fixed, given I now live on the other side of a nasty hill... I've already changed sprocket (from 17t to 18t) as it was still too much for me uphill. Good thing is that dedicated sprockets are cheap at SJS Cycles so I bought them all...
https://overthebarsinmilwaukee.wordpress.com/2010/09/07/review-sturmey-archer-sx3-three-speed-fixed-gear/