The catalogs of Japanese vintage bicycle

The Invitation for Cycling by Mr.Gami

Part 91: Kofu bicycle (Kenko) in 1968

I don't know the detail of Kofu bicycle. Sports bicycle seemed to be a specialized field of the company. Kenko was a brand name of company's products.

Kofu bicycle was merged with Zebra bicycle in December 1969, and the company name changed to Zebra-Kenko bicycle. Then the company was merged with Okamoto Riken rubber in May 1976. The company name changed again to Okamoto Co., Ltd in October 1985. I don't know how long they continued the business of bicycle.
The catalog which I introduce here was issued in the latter period of Kofu bicycle. It may have been made for bicycle shop in a binder style. According to this website, many good staffs had been working in Kofu bicycle, and they dispersed to other company.

This is the front cover. The bicycle is Abu KH-10.

This is the line-up.

This is the message from president of the company. The signature is smart.

The trophies were showing that Kofu bicycle had been getting a number of victories at the competition.

I could feel the old time because athletes were riding a bicycle in the gravel road.

The catalog introduced frame materials and characteristics of original parts through three pages. There was a kickstand for forward-dropout type frame-end and a hub for speedmeter, along with Nervex fork crown, lugs, small head parts of micro adjuster, and plinth of cantilever brake.

The catalog introduced each models from here.

The road-racing model KS-27R appeared first. It was equipped with domestic, highest grade racing parts.
The crank was Sugino Mighty-compe (PCD 151mm, minimum teeth 44T) which didn't have a hole on the arm. Rear derailleur was early model of Suntour V; front derailleur was a top-normal model Suntour Spurt: brake was a Dia-compe centre-pull: saddle was Fujita Seamless which didn't have cover on the plastic: stem was Nitto Dynamic, therefore handlebar must have been Nitto, too: pedal was Mikashima Unique-road.
Until early 1970s, high grade road-racing bicycle of each maker were composed of almost same parts.
A monthly salary for new college graduates of those days was about 30,000 yen. So if the price is converted into present value, it will be 350,000 yen. The price was high after all.

This was Record-ace KS-27P. It was a road-racing model which was called 27inch*10-speed in those days. This model equipped with fender, carrier, and block dynamo. The crank was a steel cottered model; the gear combination was 50*48, super close ratio.

This was "four-side" camping model Alpina KA-10C. The derailleur was Simplex Prestige set; brake seemed Mafac (or it may have been Crossbow of Tokyo brake). The gear ratio was F48*36T, and R15-28T. It must have been a wide ratio in those days. However, seeing from the present view point, it is same as gear ratio of road-racing bicycle of compact-drive. The speedmeter was standard item, connected to specialized front hub.

This was touring model Alpina Deluxe which was equipped with rear side-bag and front bag. It was suitable for the name Deluxe because it was composed of Cr-Mo tubes and several kinds of French parts such as Nervex lug, Simplex prestige derailleur, Mafac driver type cantilever brake, guidnett lever, Normandy hub, Huret wing nut, JOS dynamo, and headlight. The crank was Sugino Pro-dynamic cottered model. The price was so expensive.

This was "four-side" camping model Alpina KA-10. The price was same as KA-10C. However, there was a lot of difference of parts and frame. I don't know whether Kofu bicycle had been selling two types of camping model simultaneously or it may have been a transition period of the model change. The front and rear derailleur were Sankosha Procyon.

This was the short trip model Journey KD-10. It was equipped with pannier rack, cantilever brake, guidonnet lever, and Simplex Prestige derailleur. Hub was Atom which was imported by Sugino in those days. The grade may have been equal to Bridgestone SS-10.

This was the short trip model Journey KD-5, front single type of KD-10.

This was Abu KH-10. It was sports model for daily life because of chain case, safety lever, and the shift lever which was attached to stem. Front derailleur was Dia (Yoshigai): rear derailleur was Suntour skitter: brake was Dia-compe side-pull model. There was a big headlight (100 mm) with a cover on the center of handlebar. The catalog said; this is a new model which broke a mannerism. Was it because of this big headlight?

This was Abu KH-10B which equipped with an all-rounder bar.

This was Abu KH-5B which equipped with an all-rounder bar.

This was Jack KJ-5A. This was used for attending school because of twin lights, safety lever, and plastic saddle. The grade may have been equal to Bridgestone Sprinter or Shine star. However, this model was equipped with Simplex derailleur.

This was Jack KJ-5B equipped with all-rounder bar. Back in those days, most of the school prohibited using drop-handlebar for attending school.

This was Junior KC-10. Frame size 490 mm was prepared for short kids. The model was equipped with long shift lever and speedmeter. The handiness and boy's favorite style must have been sales point. The frame pump had an oil feeder in the grip. It can be useful even now.

This is Junior KC-5A, 5-speed model.

This was Junior KC-5B. It was a 5-speed model which was equipped with all-rounder bar. There was a structural drawing of the frame pump.

This was Wide KW-5. It was equipped with 15-28T wide ratio freewheel. The catalog said: this model can conquer the climax of 12% of inclines. However, there was no explanation about leg strength. The handlebar was Lauterwasser type semi-drop. How many people could understand this word?

Mark eight KM was a model which was equipped with fixed/ freewheel rear hub. This kind of bicycle belonged to the old English model? The wing-nut was Huret.

Flasher KE-5 was equipped with an electrical flasher which had been popular among boys in past. I had seen same catchphrase "first in Japan" in a catalog of other maker. The catalog said: you can turn to the right and the left easily. However, right turn was dangerous.

Young KY-4A was a sport model which was used for attending school. You could put a school bag on the front carrier. It was 4-speed model, and classified to ordinary model.

Young KY-4B was a sports model which was used for attending school. You could put a school bag in the rear folding carrier. Back in those days, we often saw students who rode a sports bicycle which was equipped with this folding carrier. Nowadays, most of students ride a shopping bicycle (mama-chari). I'm rather surprised when I happen to see a student who rides a sports bicycle for attending school.

Cattleya KL-4 was a mixte model which equipped 4-speed gear. It must have appeared an elegant French bicycle in those days.

Princess KPL-4 was a 4-speed lady's model which had a staggered frame. The shift lever which was attached on brake lever was ancestor of present dual-control lever.

Cathy K-24 was a sport bicycle for school children. I don't know how much demand there was in those days. It was equipped with 3-speed gear. There must have been a number of children who yearned for a sports bicycle of older brother and sister. But why the leather saddle was used for this model?

Giants KG5-1 was so-called junior sport bicycle. It was equipped with twin headlight which was popular in those days. The speedmeter was standard item. It was characteristic because a cylinder lock was attached on the seat stay directly.

Giant KG5-2 was a model which omitted a speedmeter.

Giant KG5-3 was equipped with Mighty handlebar which could change the grip position such as upright, flat, and semi-drop.

There were lots of sports bicycle in the line-up in those days. The difference with the present line-up is that only a road-racing model wasn't equipped with fender. In comparison with present price, it was too expensive. Back in those days, bicycle was still valuable item. There are prices of installment payment on the catalog. There must have been a number of parents who buy a bicycle for children with the installment plan.