I think, many of Japanese collectors buy own nostalgia. Since Japanese are poo r and Japanese Yen is not strong in the world market, They can not to buy good bicycle when they are young. French bicycles (Rene Herse, Alex Singer, Follis ...) and French equipments (Strong Light, plunger Simplex, Ideale, Mafac...) a re their shining dreams or brilliant jewels when they were poor young. They gl ow up to be a man, they buy own dreams.
We Japanese can buy a Toei bicycle in the amount of $2K. $2K bicycle is slight ly poor than $5K. But with toei quality. I bought two Alex Singer Bicycles fro m Mr. Csuka in Levallois. He designed bicycle dimensions for me. The cost is a bout 26K France Franc (in 1995 and 1998). This is the same or inexpensive cost as special Toei bicycle. But Unfortunately, sipping cost (France to Japan) is very expensive.
Mr. Hirose is not young. He got serious sickness two year ago. He became to re cover today. But, no one knows that when he will give up his job.
Since I am poor about English language, I can not write of my opinion. Sorry.
Kenji Fusejima
Tokyo Japan
> Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2001 20:17:11 -0400 (EDT)
> From: "Douglas R. Brooks" <dbrk@troi.cc.rochester.edu>
> Errors-To: classicrendezvous-admin@bikelist.org
> To: monkey37@bluemarble.net (Monkeyman)
> Cc: richardsachs@juno.com, QYP02710@nifty.com, classicrendezvous@bikelist.or
g
>
> It's my understanding that one can still buy a Toei
> from Japan, though you'd need Jitensha or someone who
> speaks Japanese to help.
> But, just to reply to Brandon, a fully-equipped Toei
> I am told runs about 5K, this with an array of old school parts,
> mudguards, lights internally wired, custom racks, etc.
> This is exactly the same cost as a new Singer from M. Csuka
> in Paris. M. Csuka will indeed make you a custom stem too,
> though I think not the brakes or cranks any longer.
> I believe the point concerning Japanese collectors is not
> that they lack a commitment or love of these wonderful style
> bikes but, more precisely, that they do and are willing to reach
> into their pockets to obtain what they love. I have nothing to
> say about what folks are willing to pay for anything, that being
> their business and none of mine.
> I am wondering if Hirose is still in business and I wish
> I spoke and read Japanese.
> Does anyone know?
> These are indeed beautiful and masterfully made bikes.
>
> no bike pages in Sanskrit, Tibetan, Tamil... but I could help there,
> and I might get to Japan in the next few years and would love to
> know how one might visit these shops,
> Douglas Brooks
> Canandaigua, NY