" Tronchet " is not French but Japanese. It is the brand of
Masashi Nitta , the author of the book ,' mamonotati - special
made cycle ' himself.
"River One " is a brand of a shop ' Ichikawa' in Tokyo. Ichi is
one and kawa is river in Japanese.
" Holks" is a OEM of Toei to a shop in Tokyo,' Yokoo Sorinkan'.
Ordinarily Holks is road racing model.
Takao Noda
Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
> I've recently been compiling a list of tourers
> that most closely follow in the traditions of Herse
> and Singer. (If in the past I made any suggestion that
> certain Japanese builders in this style were lesser lights
> than the French, I humbly eat crow now and have seen the
> light...to wit, below are a number of great builders...)
>
> I confess to having seen most of these bikes now only in
> pictures but from these it is clear that there are more than
> a few that invite our attentions.
>
> In addition to TOEI, the S. WATANABE bike I've seen is
> an audax style but without lights. Other WATANABEs look
> just like Herse and Singer, some even made with Cyclo rear
> derailleurs (with the hanger).
> There is a demountable by K. YAZIMA that looks like a dead
> ringer for that Herse that just sold on eBay.
> The HIROSE looks like a 650b randonneur like my Herse,
> without a rear rack.
> The KATAKURA SILK is a full-fledged cyclocamper with 650b
wheels
> but includes a third rack within the main triangle, presumably
> for water bottles(?).
>
> Among French builders in this style, I'd love to hear and learn
> more about:
> A.S. Gillott
> Tronchet
> Verdin
> Andre Bertin
>
> And does anyone know anything about:
> River One (the example I've seen is a 650b sized wheel bike
with
> lighting on the front mudguard and a dynamo boss on the rear
wheel,
> again like my Herse, with the bag support front rack but no
rear.
> and
> VOLKS, the one I've seen being an audax bike with front rack,
> mudguards, no lighting and 700c or 27" wheels.
>
> Would anyone care to comment on any of these lesser known or
> less frequently mentioned builders?
> Darn impressive stuff I have seen: elegant for the details,
> practical and smart in design, and every last one a joy to
> behold. I bet they ride just as nicely as they look.
>
> Douglas Brooks
> Canandaigua, NY