Return to

The Catalog of Reminiscence

The Invitation for Cycling by Mr.Gami

Part 66: JASCA in 1964




Here is the catalog of JASCA in 1964. JASCA is abbreviation of "Japan Sports Cycle Association". It was composed of 12 domestic bicycle parts industry which had produced exclusive parts for sports bicycle. I don't have much information about the association. The purpose of the association was to promote Japanese sports bicycle and cycling. The companies which appeared in this catalog were below. Most of the companies were at Osaka.

Araya industry Inc. (rim)
Kyokuto manufacturing Inc. (pedal)
Shimano industrial Inc. (3-speed internal hub and freewheel)
Sugino engineering Inc. (crank)
Taihei saddle manufactory Inc. (saddle)
Daido kogyo Inc. (chain)
Takagi iron works Inc. (crank)
Takahashi saddle manufactory Inc. (saddle)
Nankai iron works Inc. (coaster brake)
Hokoku chain Inc. (chain)
Maeda iron works Inc. (freewheel and external derailleur)
Yoshigai kikai kinzoku Inc. (caliper brake, handle, rim-brake, front derailleur)

This was not a mere parts catalog, but one of a reference book which explained parts mechanism and how to use them. Back in those days, cyclists used to read such catalogs, and learned about the parts mechanism and maintenance method.

I picked several photographs up from the catalog of A5 centerfold 90 pages.

The catalog was offered by Mr. N. M




This is the front cover.





The introduction explained about the joy of cycling.





With the theme "how to enjoy cycling", the catalog explained the kinds of cycling and each point (puttering, cycling, cycling tour, camp cycling).





This is the contents of the parts which were made by the makers of JASCA. I picked up several pages which introduced those parts.





The internal derailleur of Shimano was introduced in this page. External derailleur did not appear in the catalog yet. Back in those days, the main product of Shimano was internal 3-speed hub; external derailleur was announced in the following year. This internal 3-speed hub became a popular product in the market of USA. It established the foundation of the present Shimano's prosperity.





External derailleur of Suntour (Maeda iron works) was introduced in this page. Skitter was a first generation. It was not slant pantograph model yet; the mechanism was similar to Huret Svelte.
Grand prix of the right was a first model of slant pantograph, had gotten the patent. All of present rear derailleur which was made by Shimano and Campagnolo was this kind of horizontal slant pantograph type, and originated from this derailleur.
Later Shimano had announced slant pantograph model Dura-ace 7400 as soon as the patent of Suntour was expired. Campagnolo also had followed Shimano.
After the severe competition between the makes, Suntour was sold to Taiwan capitol in 1994.





Yoshigai is a maker which has made brake as a main model. Yoshigai made a business tie-up with Weinmann which was a top maker of brake.
Yoshigai had imported the parts of Weinmann side-pull brake and center-pull brake as a knock-down kit, had composed them as a products.
Later, Yoshigai began to supply the brake parts to Weinmann conversely.
In this catalog, the brand name was not Dia-compe yet, but Weinmann.





Takahasi saddle continues the business even now. The brand name of sports bicycle saddle of those days was "Speedic". Professional of the bottom right used aluminum base of IDEAL. I never knew it until I saw this catalog.

I felt the will of JASCA which intended to improve the quality and the function of domestic sports bicycle so that Japanese people could enjoy a cycling.






inserted by FC2 system