Yes, I think the name was meant to fit with a rather idiosyncratic ad campaign in which the bike was shown submerged in water to emphasize the imperviousness of stainless to rust. Bridgestone certainly went their own way, with limited financial success, but they were always entertaining, as many of Grant's tales in the Rivendell Reader testify to.
By the way, I've always assumed that Bridgestone bikes were in fact made by the giant tire company of the same name, which swallowed up Firestone a few years ago. Anyone know different? If I'm correct, perhaps the reason Bridgestone bikes could do so many unusual things is that the bike business was a trivial piece of the Bridgestone empire. It was probably not worth the CEO's time to spend more than 5 minutes per year thinking about bicycles, so perhaps the bike guys were given pretty much a free hand.
Regards,
Jerry Moos
Houston, TX
>
> Dave Bohm wrote:
>
> > I am under the impression that stainless bike frames have
> > existed far before 1990, anyone have any knowledge of this?
>
> Well, there was the Crescent Stainless of about '74,
> http://bulgier.net/
>
> Bridgestone also made a SS-tubing frame in the 70s, possibly sold under
> their Kabuki brand, anyone remember? I vaguely recall it may have been
> called the Submariner or some such. The tube ends were flared, and the
lugs
> were die-cast around the tubes, a very innovative way to make a very heavy
> frame.
>
> The SS Alex Moultons are probably off-topic.
>
> Mark Bulgier
> Seattle, Wa
> USA