Frequent readers will remember past posts of vintage Fuji Brake-Rod roadsters. These are fantastic, is very heavily constructed bikes from one of the world's oldest and most successful bike companies. Dearly sought after machines indeed.
Now a funny thing happened at Panjiayuan a few months back. A gentleman brought an excellent example, maybe the best example seen yet, of a Fuji roadster....or was it? In the below pictures you can see quite clearly on the head badge and the fender logo, that although the Fuji trademark silhouette of Mt. Fujiyama is co-opted, It instead bears the letter "HAO" and not Fuji.
Hao, incidentally, means "Good" in Chinese, although the bike is clearly Japanese. So is it a copy?
NO. It is a Fuji HAO. The top of the line Fuji bicycle back in the day.
These pictures also show several other quality features. First the headbadge is brass, not only that, but peeking through an aged cover of chrome, it appears the fork crown is also brass!
The fenders, while also following the general Fuji triangular shape, have 2 extra corregations running down the sides. and the center crease appears even more pronounced than on other examples. Quite elegant.
You can see that the fender stays actually go through the fender and are held by brass cross tabs. I do not think these particular tabs are original, although they clearly fit the bike extremely well.
The bike does not have the 1950's rocket style chainguard seen on other Fujis, but still the piece that is there looks good.
As a final touch the HAO also had a set of neat cotter caps, with shapes that complement the angular shape of the fenders. You can also see in this photo, the Fuji style chainring, showing the famous logo.
Interesting find Jeff. Looks like the basics (frame, head badge, fenders, chainwheel, are indeed genuine. To think that this has survived over the years is amazing. Love the workmanship and detail on those fenders!
Posted by: Richard | February 21, 2010 at 06:12 PM
I love those logos! Great bike. I wonder how many of them are still around (and where)?
Posted by: Matteo Favero | January 19, 2011 at 12:08 AM