Yamaguchi confusion!

lae
lae Posts: 555
edited November 2009 in Road general
Alright.

Friend of mine has picked up this old bike out of a skip.

2s6n2f6.jpg
ifzz8x.jpg

Now the stickers say:
Yamaguchi
Sports Frame
Sakai Japan

So what's the deal here? I doubt it's a 'proper' Yamaguchi (i.e. handmade by Koichi Yamaguchi) because it just doesn't look like one, plus it says 'Sakai Japan' and Yamaguchi only made bikes under his own name from his company in the US - his work in Japan was under 3Rensho. And I don't think he made any 'off the peg' bikes.

Is there another company called Yamaguchi? It's a very common surname in Japan. Is it a cheap imitation - a rebranded Raleigh Record or something? The bike is Australian if that helps.

Thanks

Comments

  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Judging by the pressed lugs and basic components, it's certainly not a 'real' Yamaguchi, just your typical garage ware / skip find of no real intrinsic value
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • lae
    lae Posts: 555
    Yeah the make is actually 'Record', I thought it was a Ross for a while (right era, price and similar logo).

    Still have no idea who 'Yamaguchi Sakai' are though - it's a popular name in Japan so it's probably just a coincidence!

    Any bike out of a bin is a good bike though :D

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