Hello:
It is another report by the president of Japanese bicycle shop. This shop named "I's bicycle". It is very famous classic influenced shop in classic city Kyoto.
Certain Japanese cycle-tourist wanted to get Alex SiNGER tandem. Then, the president of I's bicycle went to Alex SiNGER shop and placed the order. I's bicycle is the Japanese agent in buying Alex SiNGER bicycle. The photos in the first half of a report were shot of the situation at that time. Manufacture of a tandem was impossible. And then, Mr.Csuka planned to modernize old tandem. In the second photo, Mr.Csuka discussed with the president of I's bicycle. In the third photo, Mr.Csuka explained about the forks. Steerer tube is only 22 mm dia. Forks weights with brazed on carrier is only 750 grams. Frame weight without forks is 1750 grams. Tubing is Vitus 4/10. The fourth photo shows build sheet of first Alex SiNGER machine. The first Alex SiNGER machine was not bicycle but was tandem. The sheet stamped acceptance day "November 30,1938". In the fifth photo, Mr.Csuka explained the method of line painting. Line painting is not by ordinary painter. Special craftsman (line painter?) draws it only with short-flat brush. He uses no ruler. He draws a straight line by sliding a hand along with a frame. The 6th photo shows the acknowledgment sheet of "Titre de Maitre Artisan". It is showed in the shop.
The photos in the second half of a report were shot of the Alex SiNGER rally. In this part, the situation of the rally was reported. The 15th photo shows Mr. Olivier Csuka with his machine. He went to next city to enter for the criterium race with his older brother Jean, after the SiNGER rally. He changed into modern jersey.
Kenji Fusejima Yokohama Japan
At 1:18 PM -0700 02.10.2, Jan Heine wrote:
>Hi John,
>
>Thanks for the link. I had seen some of the photos at a friend's in
>Belgium. That was last year's Alex Singer rally - the same I show in my
>newsletter, but during the 1950. It's in March, I believe. Then, they had
>snow, this year rain... It's still going on every year. Last year, a
>number of Japanese came over.
>
>The bike looks like the build sheet is stamped 1938. Probably one of the
>first bikes Singer made. Must be a repair, anyhow - Singer tandems are no
>longer made.
>
>Jan Heine
>
>>Check out
>>http://www1.odn.ne.jp/~aaa65240/paris2001.html
>>
>>Shows M. Csuka working away - pretty interesting really.
>>
>>And check out the bike he's holding at the bottom of the page.
>>
>>John "wonder how BabelFish will translate this page" Price
>>Denver, CO