[CR]Re: Japanese bikes and parts

(Example: Racing:Roger de Vlaeminck)

Date: Tue, 18 Jul 2006 10:57:40 -0700
From: "Bob Freitas" <freitas1@pacbell.net>
To: Huemax@aol.com
References: <503.12862d00.31ee6ff1@aol.com>
In-Reply-To: <503.12862d00.31ee6ff1@aol.com>
cc: CLASSIC RENDEZVOUS <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: [CR]Re: Japanese bikes and parts

I know the trading companys basically controlled production and thus allocation ,I know Yagami controlled Suntour and maybe even Shimano in the beginning. C.ITOH was one of the biggest trading companys. You could buy from the trading company not the manufactuers. Most bikes we sold here were assembled from framesets bought from someone with parts sourced where ever and then put togeather by a 3rd party. Does the trading company system still exist? I know the best companys to deal with (and they were selective) were the ones who were primarys.

BOB FREITAS

MILL VALLEY,CA who grew up in the Bicycle business when it was the Toy business and we sold 75% of our bikes in the last quarter (Christmas) and who remembers the bike boom of 1962/63 and wholesale arrival of the European bikes

Huemax@aol.com wrote:
>
> In a message dated 7/18/06 12:13:48 PM, freitas1@pacbell.net writes:
>
>
>> Anyone know who the manufactuer was? maybe FUJI? I know FUJI produced
>> a lot of higher quality models under private label(Nishiki? Campania )
>> The trading companys controlled most if not all of the
>> production capacity (C.ITOH ,YAGAMI)
>
>
> Hi Bob, and list members,
>
> In Japan, light weight (sport) bicycle and parts all sudden re-born,
> becaue of JAPAN's
> international society return with Tokyo Olympic of 1964. Then, they
> were known as TOY
> maker and also precision consumer goods as camera and watches after
> WWII of 1945.
>
> Maeda=SUNTOUR, Shimano, Sugino. Yoshigai=Dia Compe/Weinnman,
> Mikashima, Nitto,
> Fujita (Japanese Brooks), Sakae, these guys are maily in Kansai
> (Western Japan near
> Osaka area). while frame makers are mainly in Kanto area
> (Tokyo-Saitama, Yokohama,
> Kawasaki). The best known is Toei in ourside Tokyo.
>
> My memory of owning a SILK in Japan was made by Katarura in Tokyo, but
> later the
> brand name might have changed hands. C. Itoh is a huge trading
> company, never
> made bike or parts, Panasonic(Matsushita) is from Osaka area, again a
> distributor/exporter.
> Another big name is Brigestone, again this company gather many small
> manufacture's
> works. Fuji has been old and big company for many things taking name
> after Mt. FUJI,
> I am not sure where Fuji Bicycle is originally from. As far as
> seling/distribuing light weight
> quality bicycles, it had to be done with a big money and big
> operation, I do not think any
> Japanese bike maker could have such capacity in 1960' to 70's.
>
> Have a great day!
>
> KEN TODA, High Point, NC, in US heatwave of '06. getting up 95'F! (but
> heat index of 100+)