Unicorn find: late 50's/early 60's Alps World Ace touring bicycle
12-05-15, 02:15 PM
#1
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Unicorn find: late 50's/early 60's Alps World Ace touring bicycle
Still pinching myself. This one involved lots of distance and equal parts luck. Can't wait to get back home so I can get back to staring at it in wonder. Still trying to determine if it was built by the father (Shinichi) or the son (Hiroshi) Hagiwara. Either way custom made top of the Alps line, fillet-brazed by special request by the original owner. Insanely cool full Sanko drivetrain with suicide front shifter, it even has the original Sanko chain!!! I have never seen a long cage Sanko but apparently they exist because I now own one. The bike was built for climbing and descending and the Dia Lucky levers have a special locking feature so that you can set the brakes at a certain pressure and leave it there for long descents. It actually works very intuitively. Repainted professionally by the original owner, who brought the bicycle to Canada from Japan many years ago. The original owner liked white. A lot. To prepare yourself for the upcoming pictures you have to imagine him with a long white goatee, sitting on an immaculate white couch, stroking his white cat. The only part I've changed is the saddle. It wasn't original, so I butchered an Ideale saddle to mimic as closely as possible the swallow-type saddle that the bicycle would have come with. Pics coming soon! Can't believe I'm the caretaker of this bike.
12-05-15, 02:30 PM
#2
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Congrats, can't wait to see some pics.
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12-05-15, 02:53 PM
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This is a big time tease thread without pics, 
12-05-15, 06:45 PM
#4
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Unexpected dinner party at my place and too dark to take pictures, but here's a teaser:
12-05-15, 07:01 PM
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devinfan-
Congratulations! I'd seen the Alps on Kijiji but it was just too small but at a great price, especially considering the provenance.
Congratulations! I'd seen the Alps on Kijiji but it was just too small but at a great price, especially considering the provenance.
12-05-15, 07:06 PM
#6
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Thank you!!! It certainly was a great price. It happens to be exactly my size although it will only be going out on the occasional sunny dry day. The workmanship on the frame is incredible.
12-05-15, 07:07 PM
#7
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First page from the '64 catalog showing the distinctive hellenic stays and high fender mounts of the World Ace:
12-06-15, 12:02 AM
#9
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I hope so. They are really beautiful anyway. Will post better pics tomorrow! This bike is so much fun in every way. Hubs are dual threaded with a single cog on the non drive side, not sure what that's about at all. Here is an excellent article on Sanko derailleurs for anyone interested in Japanese obscurities:https://www.disraeligears.co.uk/Site/...railleurs.html
Last edited by devinfan; 12-06-15 at 12:05 AM.
12-06-15, 12:17 AM
#11
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Waiting for confirmation from the original owner but the seller is quoting 1962 as the date of manufacture so that's what I'm going with for now. If anyone here knows when the business changed hands from father to son it would be greatly appreciated. My understanding is that Shinichi Hagiwara took over building from his father Taku Hagiwara in 1946 but I don't know when Hiroshi took over for Shinichi.
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12-06-15, 09:02 AM
#16
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Sanko shifter. It operates the opposite way of a regular shifter, which I'm still trying to figure out. When the shifter is in line with the down tube the chain sits on the largest cog, then you pull to down shift..
12-06-15, 09:04 AM
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Rear hub. 5 speed freewheel on one side, single fixed cog on the other. Not sure what the purpose is!
12-06-15, 09:15 AM
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12-06-15, 09:22 AM
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The enameled hub barrels and derailleur cage are odd, but fascinating details. Never seen a bike quite like this.
12-06-15, 09:35 AM
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12-06-15, 10:04 AM
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That IS a unicorn find! Very cool! You'd never get dropped on a C&V ride with that one, a peloton would quickly form behind you.
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12-06-15, 10:14 AM
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So many cool, awesome details on this bike. I am completely in love with the fork. 
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