Why the 1950's （Part 3）

次回この記事の日本語版を投稿します。

（↓↓↓Click on photo to enlarge↓↓↓)

In the previous post we saw that immediately after the war bicycles were in great demand and quality was questionable due to lack of materials as well as standards.  However, in the early 1950's good materials are becoming available, with the passage of The Industrial Standardization Law which became the foundation for JIS (Japan Industrial Standards) standards began to slowly be implemented but would eventually take nearly a decade to spread throughout the entire bicycle industry.  This means that quality and interchangability would not be complete until the early 1960's and that bicycles from the 1950's are largely crafted.

At this time bicycles are the only affordable type of private transportation costing on average two months' salary and the status of a bicycle is nearly that of today's automobile.  Although munition factories had been converted back to peacetime production, automation was still lacking and, as the photos below illustrate, bicycles are made by hand. 

Frame brazing by hand

Handlebar welding by hand

Handlebar plating (chrome) by hand

Handlebar assembly by hand

Brake assembly by hand

Frame painting by hand

Fender painting by hand

Leather saddle assembly by hand

Badge enameling preparation by hand

Fender ornament painting by hand