This week was the first time I had been to Panjiayuan antique bike meet in months. Being it was the end of spring festival, and still winter, there wasn't the usual crowd. And the crowd that was there came late. But still there was some interesting stuff to be seen. One first timer unloaded a table of bits and pieces. A fine melange for a browsing.
On the left you have a Golden Lion badge. This is from the Jin Shi Brand located in Jiangsu Province...several hundred kilometers from Beijing. Next to that is a Shoudu brand showing the south gate of Forbidden City. "Shoudu" means capital and needless to say this make hailed from Beijing but has long since disappeared.
Next we have a pair of birds. Fei Ying (Flying Eagle Brand) hails from the Anyang Bicycle Factory in Henan province. They also make another more famous brand licensed from overseas. It's called San Qiang which literally translates as "Three Guns". Can you guess the English name of the brand? If not, no worries, I'll talk about this in another post.
The next head badge travelled the farthest. Yingwu (Parrot brand) hails from Guangzhou thousands of kilometers to the south.
Back closer to home we have a Shuangxi (Double Happiness) headbadge and a Flying Pigeon rear reflector, both from Tianjin, just 100KM away.
Next to that is something very rarely seen: Two rocketship fender ornaments from Yongjiu (Forever). As far as I can tell these appeared on only one model during the 1980's. Often broken off and lost, they are a real find. Being for a Forever, they of course, originated in Shanghai, many leagues to the southeast.
You can pick out a couple other goods on the table as well: Circle Lock, Gear Hub, Dynamo and cotter caps. But if none of this tickles your fancy, the man at the next park bench might have something for you.
That's right more badges! Reproduction Dutch and British badges in this case, and from the looks of the curious spellings, probably rejects from the factory. Let's face it, if there is money to be had, and parts to be made, they are probably being manufactured in China. Problem often is that western script looks just like lines on a page to many Chinese, just as Chinese script looks like hieroglyphics to westerners. It's all too easy to get things wrong. And if you don't notice it until a few hundred have gone by...No problem!... and no waste. Somebody will buy them. Just not me.
Jeff,
I am living in Beijing and working to put together a custom bike. I am thinking about using a Flying Pigeon as a frame and build from there. If you have any interest in the project, please email me at stepanqp (at) gmail (dot) com.
I am hoping to get a good start on it this weekend. And am going to try and find the Panjiyuan market on Sunday.
Posted by: Quinn | February 26, 2010 at 02:53 PM
Nothing like a good find to make your day! That line "Reproduction Dutch and British badges in this case, and from the looks of the curious spellings, probably rejects from the factory." sent me rolling. Yes, interesting spelling indeed.
Great stuff. Be sure drop me a line when the mailman has delivered the goods!
Posted by: Richard | February 27, 2010 at 02:36 PM
Tell you what good sir... In a way, methinks you're in some form of a "Roadster Heaven". That fender ornament is beyond amazing. Did you procure it? When I first saw it, It thought perhaps it was off a 1960's Plymouth automobile!
Cheers!!!
Larry "Boneman" Bone
Dingmans Ferry, PA, USA
Posted by: Larry Bone | February 27, 2010 at 09:03 PM
Wow, lots of food for thought there. Are those all knockoffs, or are they really making at least some Gazelle parts there now?
I know BSA are still made in China, what about Rudge?
I was wondering if you knew a source for Phoenix decals? There's a double-bar roadster here that needs sprucing up. It looks like 60s-70s production.
I've e-mailed the factory, and heard nothing by way of reply.
(Maybe if I was to ask for 10,000 sheets...)
Do you have any ideas?
Thanks!
Corey Keller
Santa Cruz, CA, USA
Posted by: Corey Keller | March 08, 2010 at 11:49 PM