Some of you may have noticed that I am a bit obsessed with a particular brand from Guangzhou which i have been calling "Zhongguo" (China) brand due to this very word being emblazoned on their arc side stands.
The only other branding I have seen was one very obscured head badge. I have also come across some references on the web to the "Cotton Tree Factory Bicycles"
Now finally thanks to the Chinese shopping site 997788, I have a clear view of the badge.
Continue reading "Zhongguo! Again..." »

One of the great things about unpacking is you get to see things you haven't seen in a while. One of those things is this Zhongguo brand side stand. Zhongguo (meaning China) brand is from the south of China. Guangzhou in fact. But I picked this one up on my last day weekend in Beijing.
The Zhongguo brand is still something of a mystery to me. On the headbadge below it says it is a product of the "Cotton Tree Factory".
Continue reading "Zhongguo! Out of the Box." »
You may be familiar with old Chinese coins... specifically the neat looking ones that are round on the outside (representing the perfection of heaven) and have a square hole in the middle (representing less than perfect earth). The examples above are the real deal, from theTepapa New Zealand Museum.
Continue reading "New Uses for Old Coins" »
As I mentioned previously, I used my last day at the Panjiayuan old bicycle meet to acquire some choice goods.
One of the items that I have been looking for for 2 whole years is one of the small aluminum reflectors seen below.

I suspect this is a Bosch part as they always seem to accompany a Bosch dynamo, but have occasionally seen them with Lucas and Miller electrical bits too.
I have only seen one for sale ONCE, and the seller wanted an astronomical price for a little piece of metal. No deal. Otherwise, nobody could be persuaded to part with their petite treasure. And then....
Continue reading "Last of the Panjiayuan Loot -Part 1" »
Would you beleive that in almost 3 years of me discussing the goings-on, discoveries and deals at the Panjiayuan antique bike meet that I have never taken my own bike there? It's true. Maybe it's because it's a long ride down to PJY, and I am constantly pressed for time. Maybe it's because I live on top of the subway line that goes almost directly there. Yeah, actually, that's probably it.
In any case, I never took my bike to Panjiayuan.
Until last weekend....
Continue reading "Last Day at Panjiayuan" »