Lost in Black & White (Center Lines)

次回、この記事の日本語版を投稿します。

Most photos from the 1950s of vintage Japanese bicycles are in black & white.  That's because color photography only became affordable and mainstream in the 1970s.  Personally, I like black & white photos, they have a certain charm all their own.  However, some details tend to become diluted or even lost in black & white photos and it isn't until we actually see them in color do we gain a true appreation of their beauty.  BE rims are one of many examples.

We have seen BE rims and BE tires in previous posts.  BE rims were all chrome and typically spokes were black enamel.  Many bore the bicycle manufacturer or rim manufacturer's trade mark.  And, some were absolute artistic masterpieces that had  center lines.  Lets take a look at two examples.

First is a thick blue enamel center line with thin red trim on both sides.
 

You don't see much chrome on bicycles anymore.
The entire rim itself is chromed.

Note that the channel where the edges (flaps) of the BE tire sit is painted blue.
The nice thing about BE tires is that the edges (flaps) encase the tube so no need for rim tape, that function is designed into the BE tire.


Spoke washers, something we don't see today.

Second is a thick black enamel center line with gold trim on both sides.


Note the gold trade mark stamp.

Note that the channel where the edges (flaps) of the BE tire sit is painted red.


Again, spoke washers, something we don't see today.

I am totally sold on BE rims/tires.  Like most old things, they were designed and manufactured to be simple, strong, and beautiful.  They were built to carry heavy loads and withstand unpaved roads.  If I were to find any fault with BE rims it would be that, over many years of heavy use, the friction from braking can wear away the chrome plating down to the bare metal leading to rust.  Araya solved this by manufacturing stainless steel BE rims.  Unfortunately, after many years these were discontinued in 2010.  

道具箱（第三回）

I'll be back with another English post soon until then stay trued and happy wheels.

「道具箱（第1回」では、シートチューブの裏上に取り付けられた金属製の道具箱を取り上げました。
前回の「道具箱（第二回）では、ハンモックサドル専用に設計されていた革製の道具箱を見ました。
今回は、もう一つ珍しい革製道具箱を見ましょう。

高級サドル裏側のストラップ穴に取り付けるように出来ている道具箱です。


表に開け閉め用の金具が付いていません。

少し変わっている断面図。

開け閉めは右側面に付いている革製ストラップで行います。


ストラップは底をスナップで閉じています。
開くには、ストラップを引き下げてスナップを外します。

ストラップを引っぱると工具入れが出てきます。

工具入れ

「道具箱（第二回」で見たハンモックサドルと同様に、内側の工具入れが取り出せるようにできています。

中には工具4本


工具に「Kennet」刻印

以前、「アイデア考古学」を言及しました。
古い物は現代版の先祖です。

古い物は、時間に冷凍されて当時の時代のデザイン・技術・素材・特徴・機能性・発想等々一見出来るようなタイムマシーンです。

Tool Kit (Part 3)

次回この記事の日本語版を投稿します。

In "Tool Kit （Part 1)" we examined a metal tool box that attached directly behind the top of the seat tube.  And, in the previous post, "Tool Kit (Part 2)", we took a look at a tool kit; one made of leather and specifically designed for hammock saddles.  In this post let's take a look at another unique leather tool kit.

This one fastens to the two eyelets provided on the back of high-end saddles.


Note that the front has no open/close fasteners.

Also a unique profile.

A leather strap attached to the side snaps to the bottom to keep the kit closed. 


To open, pull down on the strap to unsnap it.

Pull on the strap.

And the tool kit slides out.

Similar to the hammock saddle tool kit we saw in "Tool Kit (Part 2)"  the inner pouch can be pulled all the way out.

The kit has a set of four tools.


Tools are stamped "Kennet"

I've mentioned what I like to call "Idea Archeology".  Old things are the ancestors of today's version.  Frozen in time, old things are unique because they are a virtual time machine enabling us to have a glimpse of the design, technology, materials, features, functionality and ideas of their generation.