Abstract: A variable-speed gear mechanism comprises a pinion with spring-biased radial pins and a face gear with an operative face that meshes with the pinion at various meshing radii. The gear has a central part which defines a radially innermost set of part-cylindrical sockets. Each socket has an axial opening which faces outwardly from the gear face and a lateral opening which faces radially outwardly and through which a pin is received laterally into the socket during meshed operation. A recess extends radially outwardly and in both circumferential direction from the bottom of the lateral opening of each socket, permitting unobstructed movement of a pin to and from the socket. A circular groove may define the required recesses. Its depth at a particular radius may be sufficient to avoid contact between the pins and the face gear thereby providing a neutral function. Meshing structure at a next larger meshing radius may consist of another set of sockets with lateral openings facing radially inwardly.