Marukin Bicycle (First Half)

次回、この記事の日本語版を投稿します。

In this post we shall begin to look at a recently restored Marukin bicycle.  Special thanks to the restorer, M-san, from Shizuoka Prefecture, for sending in photos.


First, let’s start with some basic information on Marukin Bicycles.
This is the Marukin trademark.


Marukin started producing bicycles over 90 years ago, back in 1932 (link Japanese only).
In the 1950s it even had its own song, The Marukin Bicycle Song.
In 1972 the main factory in Ikebukuro suffered a major fire and burnt to the ground.  Unable to recover from the devastation, the company went out of business in 1977, and, in the same year, the Hodaka Corporation took over the brand.
To celebrate its 90th anniversary, the company produced a limited edition model in 2021; the concept was to design a bicycle reminiscent of its 1950s utility cycle (all black frame, gold pinstriping, upright riding position, fender ornament, suspension saddle,  chaincase, headlamp, large rear carrier/luggage rack, channel stand, etc.) but lightweight, and packed with all modern features and technology.  Check out the fender ornament which reads "Since 1932  Marukin".


M-san's Marukin is indeed a rare find.
All original, even the license plate (tax badge) attached to the handlebars.

M-san certainly found himself a sleeping beauty.


Not only is it all original, but barely ridden and well stored.
As mentioned in Bridgestone Bicycle (Selecting a Project①) by examining the wear & tear of three specific places where the rider's body makes contact with the bicycle, i.e. grips, saddle and pedals, one is able to measure how much the bicycle was actually ridden.

1. Grips
Some damage on the very end, but very little wear and the Marukin trademark is still crisp and clear.

2．Leather saddle
Hardly any signs of wear, no cracks around the rivets.


The Marukin trademark is still crisp and clear.


3. Pedals
Consistent with the grips and saddle, the rubber block pedals also show virtually no sign of any wear.
Again, the Marukin trademark is still crisp and clear.

In addition to above, checking friction wear streaks on the front rim, and tire tread on both front & back tires can also helpful.

Bicycles like these are certainly becoming increasingly harder and harder to find.  Further down the  restoration project pyramid one goes are the more common weather-beaten, broke-down rusty relics of varying degrees like the Yamaguchi Maruwai-Go below.


But as H-san proved in a previous post, if you have the passion and perseverance, even these can be brought back to life.



In the next English post, Marukin Bicycle (2nd Half), we will take a detailed look at M-san's Marukin bicycle.