Fuji Feather (Part 3 Mid-section)

次回この記事の日本語版を投稿します。

In the first installment of this series "Fuji Feather Part 1 Introduction" I mentioned that this was a very rare lady's high-end model, that there were far too many details to cover in a single post and that we would look at it in three separate installments: front, middle and rear. In the previous post  "Fuji Feather Part 2 Front-end" we covered the front-end and in this installment we will look at the mid-section.

The most outstanding feature of the mid-section is without a doubt the transparent celluloid chaincase.　Celluloid in chaincases came in three types.
(1)All celluloid chaincase.
(2)Front half (outer-half) as we will see below
(3)Celluloid chainwheel cover

This is pure art!.

I have mentioned before that Nichibei often designed their mountain logo into many of their parts. Take a close look at the chainwheel.  It is designed with three mountains.
The clear celluloid case has a beautiful raised brass Nichibei Fuji emblem, and the cotter pin covers (Japanese only) are stamped with the company logo as well.

Note the cursive Fuji Feather in red letters.

Notice the chain links below, each and every link bears the company's name. 

Also in the mid-section we see artistic Fuji Feather transfers on the head lug as well as on both the upper and lower down tubes. 

On the seat tube is another ornate transfer.

At the bottom of the seat tube is the guarantee badge which replaced the guarantee medals more commonly found on vintage Japanese bicycles prior to and including the mid-1950s.

Sprung leather saddle (Japanese only).

Fuji badge on rear of sprung leather saddle.

The crank arms are stamped with NICHIBEI FUJI.
Note the shape of the crank arms. Octagonal!

Below are close-ups of the bottom bracket.  Note the teeny tiny Nichibei Fuji logos stamped on the bottom bracket lock ring and bearing cup..

In the final installment of this series we will take a look at the rear-end.



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