Chuck Schmidt wrote:
>
> stephen fredette wrote:
> >
> > http://ebay.com/
> > now this is peculiar:
> >
> > >" It is a rare find and this was the same bike that world famous
> > >tri-athlete Jack Johnstone rode to glory. Although it would seem German
> > >from the name, it's actually made in Japan where so many of the best
> > >bike's of that era were built."
> >
> > it is ihe only bike i've ever seen with dura ace centerpulls as standard
> > equipment. dura ace high flange hubs and a crane GS long cage
> > derailleur. very odd. i remain, respectfully
> > yr obdt svt
> > Stephen Fredette
> > Hull, Massachusetts
>
> I once heard from someone on the list (I don't remember who) that told
> me in utmost secrecy, that he had it from good authority, that Volkcycle
> Co. was started in pre-WWII Germany with a subscription scam and that
> the company was transferred to Japan as part of the pact between
> Germany, Italy and Japan (The Axis). Made with slave labor he said. He
> said it was all tied together because none of the Axis could come up
> with a cheap car to compete with Henry so they tried the bike thing instead.
>
> I dunno... sounds pretty farfetched to me. What do you guys (and gals)
> think? Geo-political ramifications? What about the discrepancy in
> height between the European members of the Axis (Germany and Italy) and
> the Asian member (Japan)? Did Volkscycle have to modify their frame
> geometry to accommodate the Asians? Has anyone compiled a list of
> serial numbers with dates? Maybe Dale can put this on his web site? I
> think there was something about this in the archives wasn't
> there????????????????????????? (nod to e-RICHIE®©).
>
> Chuck Schmidt
> South Pasadena, Southern California
Oooops! Make that "on good authority" not "from good authority." The rest of the post is the gospel from a FCRLM (former CR list member) on the east coast.