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Here is the catalog of Toei which was issued around 1965 or earlier, that the factory was still at Ueno.
The catalog is centerfold, is simple structure of two pages.
Toei was established at Ueno in 1955, had moved to Machiya Arakawa ward in 1955 because of construction of new highway. I wrote that this catalog was issued around 1965 because I didn't know about the precise publishing year. Please send me an Email if you have some information about it. The catalog introduced the five kinds of bicycle such as one racer and four touring models, with photos and explanation. The highest grade touring model "Randonneur", reasonable touring model "Federal", camping model "Blue bird", "Lady model", and pure competition model "Speed-master" were there. Standard price were from 28,000 yen (for Lady) to 75,000 yen (for Speed-master). If you check about the monthly salary of new college graduates of those days, you would be able to know it was about 20,000 yen, 10 percent of the present salary. Therefore if converts into the present monthly salary for new college graduates, it would amount to from 280,000 yen to 750,000 yen. We can't compare the quality of those old parts with present ones. However, if we assume that those bicycles were evaluated as high class custom models in those days, it is interesting that the prices were close to the price range of a present high class sports bicycle. Back in those days, even a daily life bicycle was expensive. An ordinary sports bicycle of mass-production maker was more than 20, 000 yen. Nowadays, daily life bicycle become a durable consumer goods which is sold at shopping center. In the past, bicycle was precious stuff. People used to repair it, and tried to use it long time as much as possible. Catalog was offered by Mr.Old cyclist |
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