Back Mirror?

次回、この記事の日本語版を投稿します。

Spring is finally here and while "spring cleaning" I came across an interesting item from around the mid-1960s, a Back Mirror.

Back Mirror? 
This is the term Japanese use to refer to  "side mirrors" for cars, and "rear-view mirrors" for motorcycles or bicycles.

I acquired this several years ago from my favorite bicycle shop Long Life Bicycle Shop (長寿自転車商会）in Tokyo.  Perfect name as the proprietor is 89 years young, sharp as a tack and still restores and repairs  bicycles.

At first glance it looks like an ordinary vintage mirror one would attach to the handlebars.


Chrome and real glass mirror, no plastic.

But a closer look reveals an unusual bracket.
These mirrors were attached to the front axle.


Here is the mirror installed.

Sticks out about the same distance as the pedal.

I thought my leg would impede my view but not so.

After adjustment I was surprised to find that it provided a good view.
Despite the good view, I tend to suspect that, being made of glass, and, being located this close to the ground, the life expectancy of these mirrors may not have been too long.


These mirrors tend to remind me of the "wing mirrors" or "fender mirrors" which used to be standard on most Japanese automobiles  and are still found on most Japanese taxis.

The reason most taxis use these mirrors is because they are considered safer.  The logic is that they require less turning of the head, and in some cases, only require simply shifting one's eyes.