Tire Tread

次回、この記事の日本語版を投稿します。

As mentioned repeatedly in this blog in the 1950s Japanese bicycle manufacturers literally went out of their way to put their name or logo on every individual part, often more than once on a single part, from the frame right down to the tiny fender stay bolts.  Yes, and in many cases even the beaded edge (BE) tires bore either the bicycle manufacturer or tire manufactuer's name designing the name into the tire tread with raised letters.   

Note the raised letters MARUKA TYRE on the tread.
Click on the photos to enlarge.

Taken from a 1950's bicycle catalog.
Note the tire tread reads: "THE BULL DOG TYRE" in English and in Japanese along with the company logo, the head of a bull dog.

Let's take a look at a few examples.

1. Nakanishi Cycle



2. Zebra
Note the raised letter "Z" pattern which is the initial for Zebra Bicycle Company, and,
the whitewalls, only the tread is black.


Here is a another example, note the reddish brown color..  The Japanese nicknamed these tires Candy Tires (AME TAIYA) as their color resembled that of hard candy during that period.  The color is actually due to a high concentration of natural rubber and lack of black carbon typically found in the predominantly popular black tires. 
Note the Zebra Company logo on the sidewalls.  The Zebra bicycle company produced its guarantee medal (Japanese only) in the same shape as the company logo.


3. Dunlop Tyre
Note the "THE DUNLOP TYRE" tread.

Here is another Dunlop tire.

Note the tread. Can you make out what it is?
Turn it right side up and it is easier to recognize; the bust of the Dunlop company founder, John Boyd Dunlop (1841-1921).
 

Mr. Dunlop even appears on the sidewalls.

Yes, they just don't make them like they used to.

They just don't make them like they used to, two.