Gold Mitsuuma ‶Junk or Jewel″ (Part 5)

次回この記事の日本語版を投稿します。

As mentioned in the previous post,  Gold Mitsuuma ‶Junk or Jewel″ (Part 4), in this installment we shall begin taking a close look at the details of this restoration project.  Mr. H spent two years on this project juggling work, family and in-depth research to find information and actual photos in order to restore the bicycle to its original glory.  

 Fender ornament  （Before/After)
Also note the fender itself which has been repainted, re-pinstriped to its original glory. 

 Chrome tipped fork （Before/After)
Also note the black enamel gloss finish and two-tone pinstripes.

Front brake　（Before/After)

Generator　（Before/After)
Badge recreated to an exact copy of an original.





Front hub (Before/After)
Along with the hub itself, fender stays, bolts, washers are all original.





Black center line rims  (Before/After)
Even the gold pinstripes which border the black center line have been reproduced.

Cloisonne enamel badges 
Check out the paint job.  Unbelievably, no transfers were used, only paint. (Before/After) 

Back brake hardware (Before/After)
Also note the head lug transfer.  Reproduced from painstaking research.   

Handlebars
 "Through the bar" style, found on high-end models. 
The leather grips are hand-stitched by Mr. H and imprinted with the Mitsuuma trademark.

Original bell cover complete with the Mitsuuma trademark acquired and added.

Front fender badge
Mitsuuma trademarks reproduced on these tiny bolt heads.
Also note the hand-stitched leather mud flap.
 





 Tope Tube, Down Tube, Seat tube emblems/badges  (Before/After)
Note the original transfers had either faded or worn away leaving only a vague trace behind.
Using actual archived photos, instead of recreating transfers, all the wording, pinstripes and decorative scroll work was recreated with paint.

Note a rare original guarantee medal was acquired and added.

  
 

Is she "Junk" or "Jewel"?   
You be the judge.
But wait, don't pass judgement just yet.

Wait until all the evidence is in. In the next installment in this series we shall continue to take a closer look at the remaining details of this bicycle restoration.