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The Catalog of Reminiscence

The Invitation for Cycling by Mr.Gami

Part 04: Katakura Silk General Catalog in 1976





I exhibit several pages of the general catalog in 1976. People tend to imagine that Katakura Silk was professional sports bicycle. But practically, it was a general bicycle maker.
By the way, I was so surprised, because the prices of bicycle were so expensive in those days. Or I'd rather say that the price of present bicycle is too cheap.





Here is the front and back cover of Silk full lineup catalog. Two women look like Sue and Ran of Candies (Japanese 70s idol).













This is the back side of the front cover. The letter design of "The man's bicycle" is like a cartoon. The catchphrase "At the smart moment, the riding pleasure had happened" is really attractive.






These were junior sports bicycles. The prices were 42,500 yen and 45,000 yen. The model of bottom side was equipped with hydraulic disc brake.

The chart of right side explained about the mechanic marks. It was very suitable for Silk since there were the marks of cantilever brake and Rinko bicycle.






These were "high grade unisex sports bicycles". Though the word "unisex", the catalog was saying that "Speed-lady is for woman only". The price was 43,500 yen. Twin light was one of the traits of high grade bicycle in those days.






The catchphrase "Mini is your bouquet"c it is hard to understand this word.
Two marks of upper left side meant "cotter-less crank" and "high grade stainless steel". However, it's too expensive, 43,500 yen!





I pick some of sentences up from the explanation.

1. for the shopping
From a shop of this city to a boutique of another city; to enjoy window shopping is a privilege of women.
2. for the refreshment
When you are in a trouble, go cycling in the wind. Your anxiety would be blown away by the wind.
3. for the esthetic and the fitness
Cycling is very effective to the beauty and the fitness.

In present word, we should say that it is "a delicious bicycle life".





The model's fashion is nostalgic. The catalog was saying "Please use fast riding bicycle of Katakura for your daily life as a fashionable friend of modern woman".

There seems to be five kinds of bicycle in the page. But the catalog showed the different color bicycles in each page. Therefore it must be two kinds. Meribe Stainless of left side is 47,300 yen!






Of course, there were high grade fast-run bicycle, high grade utility bicycle, high grade junior bicycle, and high grade kids bicycle in the lineup.

In the old movie "Aoi Sanmyaku" (The Green Mountains), there was a scene that several actors and actress such as Setsuko Hara, Ryo Ikebe, Yoko Sugi, Kei Izu, Ichiro Ryuzaki, Setsuko Wakayama had ridden this kind of bicycle enjoyably. Am I old-fashioned?






The bicycle of upper right is a same model with the one which my parents had bought me. Tire was BE.
The catalog was saying "The bicycle has a front basket and a buzzer; you'll be able to enjoy an errand from your parents". However, I didn't like charge-free errand.

Could you enjoy the catalog? I hadn't seen a silk bicycle other than sports bicycle. Is there someone who had seen the real one?






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