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.