Nozawa No. 28 3-Speed Premium Sportster (Part 1)

次回、この記事の日本語版を投稿します。

Here is an extremely rare chance to own a brand new, all original Nozawa Works Shimano 3-speed premium sportster model "Number 28" dating back to 1960. 
This bicycle has been tucked away in the far corner of a storage building for 65 years. The photos were taken just as I found the bicycle, simply dusted it off and pumped up the tires.  The paint and chrome are in good condition and will clean up nicely with a wash and light rubbing compound.

The photo below is from a 1959 Nozawa Works catalog. The catalog states two color options (blue pictured below) and light grey which was the one I found (above).


Here is the information from the 1959 Nozawa Works catalog.
Let's take a closer look.
 

The model is a Nozawa Number 28 Premium Sportster.

Let's take a look at the specifications.

Frame:  26 x 20 inch high-tension steel lugless frame.

Fenders: Nozawa IV model, white with red pinstripes.

Handlebars: Allrounder model

Chaincase: All steel, solid front full chaincase

Rims: 26x1 3/8 inch W/O

Brakes: Front channel type caliper brake
            Rear band brake

Saddle:　#32 model with soft leather 

Carrier (luggage rack):　Chrome plated sportser model

Tire/Tube:　Nozawa premium 26x1 3/8 inch 
                  Wired-on, black with whitewalls

Color: Standard light-grey frame and chaincase

As mentioned in Vintage Japanese Bicycle (Model Types)  I mainly focus on Japanese bicycles from 1949~1963, predominantly single gear bicycles.  However, at the tailend of this period was the beginning of a bicycle boom, particularly for touring as 3-speed bicycles became increasingly popular and the bicycle trend in Japan shifted from utility to leisure.  This Nozawa  No. 28 3-Speed Premium Sportster is a fine example of a high-end touring bicycle from this period.

In the next installment we shall take a detailed look at the actual 65 year old Nozawa No. 28 3-Speed Premium Sportster. 
(If you are interested in purchasing this very rare bicycle, contact me at showajitensha@hotmail.co.jp.)

【号外】 昭和自転車・銭湯パラダイス トークショウ ６月６日（土）

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【参加ご希望の方はメールタイトルに「6/6トークイベント参加希望」と書いてmachidas@q03.itscom.netまでメールでお知らせくだ
　さい。】
※展示のみご観賞の場合無料（トークショー終了後14:30-18:00まで)

・庶民文化研究所： 町田忍
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　実用車・銭湯の魅力を知り尽くした3名による幻灯機投影（スライド）
　を交えたトークショウと実用車や風切りマスコットなど実物を会場に
　多数展示！

　

First Encounter

次回この記事の日本語版を投稿します。

In a recent post I mentioned that I grew up in the US in the 1960s and had never saw an actual rod-brake bicycle firsthand until I came to Japan.  At the time I was a US Marine stationed at USMC Air Station, Iwakuni, Japan.  Rod-brake bicycles were the standard, literally everywhere in Japan.  On base the rent-a-cycle shop rented one type only, utility cycles, immediately recognizable by the standard red frame with blue rear carrier, fenders, chaincase and stand.
  

Unfortunately, I don't have any photos of the actual rent-a-cycle I rode back in 1982. 
These photos I stumbled upon are from an online auction, the bicycle is from around the year 1999.
But, very similar to the one I rode in 1982.

Rod-brakes and revolving bell.

No fender ornament.
Generator (dynamo) to power the headlamp.
BE (Beaded Edge) rim and tires.

Hub brush

Generator powered headlamp.
Note the chain stitch used to take up slack in the wire.

This brazed-on plate was a standard feature on base rent-a-cycles.

Standard lock, band brake, rubber block pedals and cottered crank arms.

Although the saddle is sprung, doubt it is a leather saddle.
The grips appear to be vinyl, not celluloid.

The number and off-base bicycle shop with telephone number.

At the time, I looked down on these bicycles as old-fashion. Mass marketing promoted expensive featherweight composite frame tubing and rims, drop handlebars, hunched over riding position, thin high-pressure tires, 10-speeds, racer-fashion bicycles with no fenders or chaincase.   Sort of the flashy high-end sports car of bicycles.  Fine if you are doing 100km and you are either a racer or focused on speed.  On the other hand, the rent-a-cycles were the antithesis.  Inexpensive, heavyweight all steel tubing and rims, single gear, sprung saddle, upright riding position, rod-brakes, balloon tires, full fenders, chaincase and luggage rack.  Kind of the low-end pickup truck of bicycles.  I have found that for me, since I rarely ride over 50km, the utility cycle is fine.  However, I admit, occasionally I encounter a hill that is too steep and I have to dismount part way and push it the rest of the way.  But, that too has its merit, it keeps me humble.

山口自転車のスマートレディー ママチャリの源 （第5回）

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

このシリーズで見てきたように、スマートレディーはママチャリの原型です。
日常使用するように設計された主に婦人用ですが、男女兼用も可能な日本製実用自転車です。

さて、映画『オズの魔法使い』をご覧になったことがありますか？
もしそうなら、悪役のミス・ガルチ（別名：西の悪い魔女）が乗っていた自転車を覚えていますか？

この自転車には、ステップスルーフレーム、直立したライディングポジション、シングルスピード、ロッドブレーキ、サス付き革製サドル、半チェーンケース、リア泥除け、バスケット、荷台など、スマートレディーとほぼ同じ機能が備わっています。

実はこの自転車、私が育った場所のすぐ近くにあるマサチューセッツ州ウォルサム市の「ウォルサム製造会社」で製造された 1900 年製のオリエントというモデルです。

1960年代に米国で育った私は、1982年に初めて日本を訪れるまで、ロッドブレーキの自転車を見たことがありませんでした。
来日して驚きました。
ロッドブレーキの自転車はどこにでもありました。
当時、そのブレーキは鼓膜を突き破るような甲高い音を出すことでよく知られていました。
仲間は、親しみを込めて「西の悪い魔女の自転車」と呼んでいました。
見た目や感触が同じだけでなく、ブレーキの大きな甲高い音が、自転車に乗っているミス・ガルチが箒に乗っている魔女に変身する場面の魔女の背筋がゾクゾクするような叫び声に似ていたからです。

日本では、スマートレディーと同じ基本機能が70年経った今でも健在なのは興味深いことです。
モデルの種類は確かに進化しており、ケーブルブレーキが標準装備され、内装ハブダイナモ式照明、自動オンオフヘッドランプ、電動アシスト、内装3段以上変速ハブ、前後チャイルドシートなどが装備されているモデルもあります。
しかし、低価格帯の新モデルは、付属品（ベル、バスケット、ヘッドランプ、スカートガード、荷台、反射板、スタンド、ロック）付きで、今でも約１万５千円くらいで購入できます。

信頼性が高く、手頃な価格で、用途が広く、これらの自転車はまさに実用的です。
パート1で述べたように、どこにでもあるママチャリは、日本におけるオランダのオマフィエ（おばあちゃん自転車）です。
ママチャリやオランダのオマフィエのような自転車は、ベーシックでシンプル、頑丈、手頃な価格、ローメンテナンス、乗り心地が快適など、多くの点で優れています。
私の言葉を鵜呑みにするのではなく、以下の素晴らしいビデオをご覧ください（英語のみ）。

Yamaguchi Bicycle, ‟Smart Lady” The Original ‟Mama-chari”（Part 5）

次回この記事の日本語版を投稿します。

As we have seen in this series, the Smart Lady is the original Mama-chari; a ubiquitous unisex Japanese utility bicycle, or "mom's bike," designed for practical everyday use. 
Now, have you ever seen the movie the Wizard of OZ? 
If so, do you remember the bicycle that the villain Miss Gulch (aka Wicked Witch of the West) rode?

It has nearly all the same Smart Lady features:  step-through frame, upright riding position, single-speed, rod-brakes, sprung leather saddle, half-chaincase, rear fender, handlebar basket and rear luggage rack. 

The bicycle is actually a 1900 Orient manufactured by the Waltham Manufacturing Company of Waltham, Massachusetts, coincidentally very close to where I was raised. 

Having grown up in the US in the 1960s, I had never seen a rod-brake bicycle until I first visited Japan in 1982.  I was amazed.  Rod-brake bicycles were everywhere.   At the time, the brakes were notorious for an eardrum piercing high-pitched screech.  My friends and I affectionately referred to them as the Wicked Witch of the West bicycles because they not only had the same look and feel, but in addition, the loud shrill from the brakes resembled the witch's spine-tingling scream as in the scene where Miss Gulch is riding her bicycle and transforms into the witch riding her broom.

It is interesting that in Japan, the same basic features found on the Smart Lady are still present 70 years later; though the spectrum of models has certainly evolved with cable brakes being standard, internal hub dynamo powered lighting, auto ON-OFF headlamps, electrical assist, internal 3-speed or more hubs, front and rear child seats, etc.  But a new low-end model can still be purchased, complete with accessories (bell, basket, headlamp, skirt guard, rear luggage rack, rear reflector, kickstand, lock) for around $100.

Reliable, affordable and versatile these bikes put the "p" in practical.
As previously mentioned in Part 1, the ubiquitous Mama-chari (mom's bike) is the Dutch Omafiets (grandma's bike) of Japan. 
Bicycles like the Mama-chari and Dutch Omafiets are in many ways better, because they are basic, simple, sturdy, affordable, low maintenance and comfortable.  Don't take my word for it, watch the excellent video below.  

山口自転車のスマートレディー ママチャリの源 （第4回）

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

このシリーズの第1回では、スマートレディーの特徴を見て、
第2回では、考案者の山口自転車製造株式会社の創業者兼社長の娘、山口シズエ氏について見てきました。
第3回では女性の体型とニーズに合わせて設計された機能だけでなく、革命的なマーケティング戦略の”美は創れる”キャッチコピーを見ました。
今回は、スマートレディーをお手頃な価格にした革新的な支払いプランについて見ていきます。

当時、自転車の価格は2か月分の給料も掛かりました。
現代の自動車所有と同様に、自転車登録した後にナンバープレート（鑑札）が取り付けられたのを知っておくことが重要です。

昭和32年（1957年）スマートレディー宣伝を見ましょう.
 

まず左上には、第 2回で取り上げた革新的なマーケティング戦略で使用されたキャッチコピー「美は創れる」を掲げた スマートレディー に乗っている女性がいます。

予約販売のご利用は良い品を安く手軽にお求め出来ます
自転車産業の大革命

（１）予約販売は前以て生産計画を立て必要生産を致しますから原価が安く出来ます。
（２）必要生産は見込生産の様にストックを各所に置きませんから資金が節約され棚ざらし残品は皆無で無駄がはぶけます。
（３）販売ルートを簡素化して能率的に致しますから輸送その他の経費が節約されます。

注: 上記は、TPS (トヨタ生産方式)ジャストインタイムの考え方と非常によく似ています。
ジャストインタイムでは、必要な部品が必要な数量で必要なタイミングで供給されるようになっているので倉庫の建物・在庫管理人材・在庫移動設備などなど不要か最小限。

スマートレディー
価格：　13,500円
予約申し込みの際：　2,500円
残りは毎月：　1,000円
期間：　12ヶ月分割り払い
納品：　第3回払込の際

付属品付：　ベル、荷台、スタンド、下ゴム、錠、籠車、後輪ネット、ランプ、ポンプ、手提嚢、

スマートレディー: 女性の心を掴むために女性により構想した自転車。
体型的、機能的、美的に女性に合うように設計され、「美は創れる」というキャッチコピーとともに、女性が自転車を所有できるような手ごろな支払いプランとともに販売されました。

Yamaguchi Bicycle, ‟Smart Lady” The Original ‟Mama-chari”（Part 4）

次回この記事の日本語版を投稿します。

In Part 1 of this series, we saw the features of the Smart Lady, in Part 2 we looked at the brainchild behind this model, Ms. Suzue Yamaguchi, daughter of the founder and president of Yamaguchi Bicycle Manufacturing Corporation, and in Part 3 we saw that the Yamaguchi Bicycle marketing ploy of "Beauty can be created" was decades ahead of its time.  In this post we will look at the revolutionary payment plan that made the Smart Lady affordable.  

It is important to keep in mind that the cost of a typical bicyle exceeded two months' salary, and, much like automobile ownership today, bicycle owners were required to pay a fee to register their bicycle afterwhich a license plate was attached.

Let's take a look at a 1957 Smart Lady advertisement.
 

First in the upper left we see a woman on her Smart Lady with the catch-phrase "Beauty can be created" used in the comany's revolutionary marketing ploy as covered in Part 2.

The upper right:
By using our pre-order service, customers can easily order a quality bicycle at a low price.
A major revolution for the bicycle industry.

（1）Pre-ordering allows us to formulate detailed production plans in advance and produce on an as needed basis; enabling us to lower costs.

（2）Pre-ordering, unlike speculative forecast production, eliminates waste and saves money since it is based on actual orders so no parts inventory nor warehouses; and since we only produce what is already ordered, there's never any leftover goods.

（3）By simplifying and streamlining sales routes, we minimize transportation, distribution and other expenses resulting is savings.

【Note:  The combination of the above closely ｍirrors the TPS (Toyota Production System) philosophy of Just-In-Time; whereby factories produce on an order based system so that the right parts are supplied at the right time in the right quantities so there is no need to maintain inventory which takes up space and requires buildings to store it, people to manage it and equipment to move it.】 

Lower right:

Price: ￥13,500  　
Downpayment:　￥2,500 
Monthly installments:　￥1,000 for 12 months
Delivery:　Upon payment of 3rd installment

Includes Accesories: Bell, rear luggage rack, stand, lock, basket, mud flap, rear wheel skirt protector net, head lamp, pump, shopping bag.

The Smart Lady:  a bicycle conceptualized by a woman to appeal to women, tailored to fit a woman physically, functionally, aesthetically, and marketed with the catch-phrase "Beauty can be created" along with a payment plan that put bicycle ownership within the reach of women.

山口自転車のスマートレディー ママチャリの源 （第3回）

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

このシリーズの第1回では、スマートレディーの特徴を見て、
第2回では、考案者の山口自転車製造株式会社の創業者兼社長の娘、山口シズエ氏について見てきました。
今回と次回の第４回で見ていくように、スマートレディーは、女性の体型とニーズに合わせて設計された機能だけでなく、マーケティングの方法でも革命的でした。

スマートレディーの広告に初めて起用されたイメージガールは、有名女優の中村メイコでした。
写真が撮影された当時は22歳で、その前年の昭和30年（1955年）に「田舎のバス」が大ヒットしたばかりでした。

中村メイコと愛車のスマートレディー(昭和31年・1956)

女性に売り込むために設計、販売されたスマートレディーのキャッチフレーズは「美しさは創られる！」でした。
つまり、スマートレディー自転車に乗れば、どんな女性でも身体的に健康になり、より魅力的になれるということを意味していました。
70年前、山口自転車が女性専用に設計する自転車の開発に着手し、美しさは身体的に健康であることから生まれるというマーケティング戦略を活用したという事実は、数十年も時代を先取りしていました。

スマートレディー自転車パンフレットに中村メイコと愛車.

スマートレディーを宣伝した有名人は次の方々もいらっしゃいました。

貝谷　八百子 （バレエダンサー）


山野　愛子 （美容師）

徳川夢声（ラジオとテレビ俳優）の奥さん
※着物で愛車に乗ります。

次回は、より多くの女性が自転車を所有できるように山口自転車の営業チームが導入した革新的な支払いプランについて見ていきます。

Yamaguchi Bicycle, ‟Smart Lady” The Original ‟Mama-chari”（Part 3）

次回この記事の日本語版を投稿します。

In Part 1 of this series, we saw the features of the Smart Lady, and, in Part 2 we looked at the brainchild behind this model, Ms. Suzue Yamaguchi, daughter of the founder and president of Yamaguchi Bicycle Manufacturing Corporation.  As we shall see here, and later in Part 4, the Smart Lady was revolutionary not only for its features specifically designed to accomodate women, but also for the way it was marketed.

The image girl first used in advertising the Smart Lady was Meiko Nakamura, a well-known actress. At the time of the photo she was 22 years old and had just had a hit song Country Bus one year earlier in 1955.

Meiko Nakamura with her Smart Lady bicycle (1956)

Designed and marketed specifically to appeal to women, the catch phase was "Beauty can be created"; implying that by riding the Smart Lady bicycle any woman can become physically fit and more attractive.  The fact that 70 years ago, the company set out to create a bicycle designed specifically for women, and capitalized on it with a marketing ploy that beauty comes from staying physically fit, was years, if not decades, ahead of its time. 

Again, Meiko Nakamura, here in the same year on the front cover of a Smart Lady brochure.

Other popular personalities who promoted the Smart Lady included the following:

 Yaoko Kaitani （Famous Japanese Ballet dancer）


Aiko Yamano （Famous Japanese beautician）

Musei Tokugawa with his second wife, Shizue dressed in a kimono, who also rode and promoted the Smart Lady.
(Musei Tokugawa:  famous actor, essayist, radio and television personality)

In the next part, we will look at the revolutionary payment plan that the Yamaguchi sales team introduced to enable more women to own bicycles.

Yamaguchi Bicycle, ‟Smart Lady” The Original ‟Mama-chari”（Part 2）

次回この記事の日本語版を投稿します。

As mentioned in the previous post Yamaguchi Bicycle, "Smart Lady" The Original "Mama-chari" (Part 1), in 1956, a time when ladies cycles accounted for less than 10% of the market, and, only around 60% of women could even ride bicycles, Yamaguchi Bicycle Manufacturing Co., Ltd. introduced a revolutionary model designed specifically to meet the needs of women and promote bicycle riding as a way to enhance beauty through exercise.  

Ms. Shizue Yamaguchi (shown below), was the brainchild behind the concept for the Smart Lady.
First, she was one of the first group of female politicians elected to the House of Representatives after World War II in 1946 and was a strong proponent for women's rights and liberation. Second, and perhaps more importantly, she also worked for her father, Shigehiko Yamaguchi, the founder and president of Yamaguch Bicycle.  It was she that proposed the concept for the Smart Lady to her father. 

"I was talking to my father (the company president) about whether it would be possible to make an attractive, lightweight, and practical bicycle for women at a lower price so they too could enjoy riding."

At the time, many women rode the family bicycle which were predominantly men's utility cycles.
(Note the presence of the top tube/crossbar and legnth of the head tube and seat tube.)

At the time, bicycles cost two months' salary, and were prized possesions.
Marriages were predominantly arranged marriages (54%) and a ladies cycle were often part of the trousseau as can be seen in the photo below.
Note: The bride is in the background.  The trousseau includes furiniture, treadle sewing machine (right), washing machine (left) and bicycle in the forefront.  Interestingly, a close look at the bicycle reveals it is coincidentally manufactured by Yamaguchi Bicycle and with the exception of it missing the quick-release basket that doubles as a handbasket (shopping basket) and quick-release battery-powered lamp that doubles as a lantern, it is uncannily similar to the  Smart Lady including: step-through frame with low seat tube, raised easy-to-reach handlebars, white celluloid grips, fender ornament, full fenders and chaincase to protect skirts/kimonos, rear-wheel skirt protector,  sprung leather saddle and a quick-release portable tire pump located behind the seat tube.

(Smart Lady below for comparison)

We shall continue to see in the next installment in this series, how the Smart Lady became the original Mama-chari; a Japanese  "mom's bike," designed for practical, everyday use.  The ubiquitous Mama-chari is the Dutch Omafiets of Japan.