The earlier ones had graphics with more mojo too, but they don't appear very often. I obtained a beautiful one for a listmember once. Very sad story about Mr. Konno, had he been able to still be in the trade, no doubt we'd be admiring his current bikes. His former head frame builder at 3Rensho when they were really cooking, Mr. Makino, has had his own frame shop now for a number of years. I see pro keirin guys on his bikes, and he also produces a large variety of more utilitarian designs. He did a wonderful repair job for me once on a Masi with a dented top tube.
Quiz: Anybody out there know what 3Rensho translates to? No cheating with on-line translators!
Dennis Young Hotaka, Japan
> The 3 Rensho frames, especially earlier ones, have really great workmanship.
> The lugs are carefully re-profiled, filed to extremely thin tips and the
> "joinery" at the dropouts, seat cluster etc shows a level of handwork that
> rivals
> the finest frames ever made. As the company became more successful and could
> afford it, they made investment cast frame component bits and "plug in"
> dropouts, all of which are cool in their own right and work great, but did not
> require
> quite as much handwork. I like all the varieties but think that the earlier
> stuff with all that TLC are the more interesting from a craft point of view.
>
> Nonetheless, IMHO 3Rensho will always be a very special marque.
>
> Dale Brown
> Greensboro, NC