Last week, I stopped at Jitensha Studio while on (monkey?) business and picked up a Japanese cycling magazine. The cover stated "Made in Japan" in English so I thumbed through it and decided to buy it when I found a sectio n written in English on the modern day bicycle manufacturers. Each brand nam e had three basic sections; brand profile, builder profile and factory profile. (Nice mag, I wish I could read Japanese)
Zunow is not listed so perhaps they are not in business anymore. Some of the builders that were profiled in the article, apprenticed at Zunow.
The article contained some interesting information, here are some highlights:
* Masahiko Makino who now builds under his own name, was chief builder at 3RENSHO. * Shoji Watanabe apprenticed at TOEI. * Shojiro Iwai, builder of Meccanico Giro bicycles apprenticed in Italy under Gianni Motta. * Shigeru Nakagawa who builds under his own name, apprenticed at Zunow * Yoshi Nagasawa ( a fave of e-ritchie) apprenticed under Sante Pogliaghi and De Rosa for six years
Also, in the repair stand was a brand new Toei randonneur being prepped for delivery to a customer in Sacremento. It was stunning light blue bicycle with a stem prettier than Alex Singers. The lug work was top shelf althoug h Peter Weigle¹s work is a notch or two better, ATMO. In a word or two, Toei¹s work is very understated and elegant. It would be a most welcome piece in Mikey¹s basement. Toei also builds demontables and tandems. (Di d I say tandems?)
Mike Schmidt Stirling, NJ USA
On 5/18/08 1:20 AM, "David Ross" <dlr94306@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Jerry,
>
> I agree with your assessment of Zunow. I got hooked on Zunows a few years
> back, and have picked up a few of them. Three of these are from roughly t
he
> same period as yours, and one probably came from the same shop in Okinawa
in
> the same year. It's got the same graphics, and has a pearl white paint jo
b
> over an all-chrome frame. It's got a complete DA group, including those n
eat
> triangular platform pedals that require the unobtanium cleats.
>
> I have tried to find out about Zunow's history without much success. At l
east
> one list member was involved in importing them, but hasn't shared much (a
nd
> may not know much of the history). I do know that the "genius" (Zunow is
> supposed to be Japanese slang for genius) behind Zunow is a Mr. T. Kageya
ma.
> He produced his 25th anniversary edition bike in 1990, so presumably he b
egan
> in 1965. He seems to have had a number of interesting ideas, some of whic
h
> have odd translations (e.g. Ditchex for his grooved top tubes, and Pentag
la
> for the pentagram-sectioned chain stays, Horn System for the flared botto
m of
> the seat tube).
>
> The earlier, non-Ditchex, pre-garish-paint Zunows are very elegant indeed
. My
> earliest one is a simple gloss black with yellow graphics, Campy DOs and
a
> very thin semi-sloping chromed fork crown. It has a very short wheelbase,
> about that of a track bike. I'm guessing 1972 - 1975. I've never been abl
e to
> decipher Zunow serial numbers, so I don't know if there might be a clue o
f the
> year in it.
>
> Now that you've joined the Zunow fold, I would love to share photos, info
and
> observations. In my experience Zunows don't generate much chatter on the
CR
> list, so feel free to email me off-list to continue. Or maybe we should s
tart
> a rumor that Kageyama apprenticed with Bianchi, and see where that goes!
>
> Regards,
> Dave Ross
> Portola Valley, California USA