Ｈｉｄｏｒｉ Bicycle

次回、この記事の日本語版を投稿します。

Here is a real beauty sent in by M-san, a Hidori from the 1950's.
Several years back we had the pleasure of looking at a similar Hidori (Japanese only).

Let's take a look at M-san's Hidori.
Although black was by far the predominant color of utility and carrier bicycles in the 1950's, there were other colors as can be seen in the color chart taken from a mid-1950's Yamaguchi bicycle catalog. 

After black was certainly olive green. Olive green seemed to be favored by the Hidori.  Another distinct feature of Hidori bicycles is the round plate brazed to the frame between the top tube and down tube as shown in the photo below.

"Black and gold" are a great combination, but olive green and gold also go great together.

The symbol of Hidori is a breed of duck known in English as Euroasian wigeon.  As is typical of Japanese bicycles from the 1950's the company logo and name can be found on nearly every part.  If you a re going to put your name on it, it had better be good. Note the fender ornament (Japanese only) below.

A nice cloisonne badge embedded in the handlebars.  Chrome is in nice shape considering the handlebars were manufactured over half a century ago.
They don't make them like they used to (Part 1). 


Hidori head badge. (Japanese only)

Hidori logo on the lamp bracket.


Hidori logo on the olive celluloid grips.


The leather tool kit (Japanese only) is not original to this bicycle but
one would never know the difference.  Note the Hidori badge on the rear of the leather hamock saddle, and, name stamped on the rear carrier.

Look closely and you will see that not only does the logo appear on the fender stay badge but the heads of the tiny fender stay bolts (Japanese only) also has the logo casted-in.

Cottered bottom bracket and Hidori logo on the cotter pin covers (Japanese only).

Hidori logo on the rear brake, fender stay and stand.

No, they "Don't make them like they used to (Part 2)".

Today Japan is widely recognized for making superior quality automobiles, motorcycles, home appliances, etc.  But after WWII one of the first things Japan turned to was bicycles.  And up until Japan became an automobile society around 1960's, most households depended on the family bicycle.