Velosophy

Velosophy

Someone may of had a drug problem when they decided to abuse this frame with this aweful repaint


Serial

Found original black and gold stickers on seat tube

Really nice original color

juvela

-----



it may be due to perspective or a photographic effect but Kokusai San's drive side seat stay appears it may be bowed ever so slightly forward

simple eno' to check with a straightedge

will look forward to following along...


-----

streetsurfer

Edited. Had the names mixed

Hello Velosophy

& Hello Juvela

I'm going to stay tuned, having a '73 International and a '74 Competition.
'73 seems stock but '74 may have a couple updates.
I'm considering a couple more upgrades across the two, and would maybe like your opinion as you proceed with your build. Assuming you are, and not just doing the frame for resale.

thank you.

juvela

-----

a customer traded in a Kokusai/International frame and when I scraped off all of the schmutz found that the seat tube had cracked in a circumferencial manner at the shell

took it to me local framebuilder, Ed Litton, and he put in a fillet to reattach everything

made me wonder if it had been overheated during brazing at the Kawamura facility...


-----

Velosophy

Took measurements of where the original stickers were placed.

Stripping process underway


See inside BB, pristine. Already having fun with it but can’t wait to get new paint on it.

schensted

This is going to be a fun and worthwhile project for you. Will you be repainting it yourself? I have a ‘73 Competition that needs new paint so I’ll be following your progress.

Velosophy

Yes it will be ready for primer today and paint soon

Velosophy

Seems like decent dropouts?


Working on the coffee table while the mrs is out

These lugs sold me on the $30 frame/fork

Thought brazing quality was not bad for 50 year old bike

Ready for Primer

Don’t fret, just primer. Getting ready for dark cherry metallic paint.

mkeller234

Wow, you did a fantastic job stripping that frame. That is a real labor of love.

Hummer

Too bad about the repainting of the original frame.

Based on the lugs, dropouts and stays the frame appears to be an Olympic model and 1975 seems about right based on the serial number.

Velosophy

To answer a previous question this is not for resale. The plan is to build up with a six speed rear, most likely vintage 600. Maybe some early tapered cranks would look good.


Not perfect but happy with it so far. Really like the dark cherry metallic. Very close to original color.

It will be a weekend cruiser.

streetsurfer

That's a great color!

icemilkcoffee 

Is that a single coat? Are you going to sand it smooth and lay down more coats?

zukahn1 

I would suggest you go a late 70's Suntour Vx group since they work better and were likely what came on the bike originally. They did actually make black and silver Nishiki branded version briefly late 70's early 80's.

zukahn1 

Some current pics of my 78 restomod.

Velosophy

Cool build. I’m going back and forth on how I will build up. I really like the Nervar drillium cranks/rings. I’m also thinking about doing a single up front maybe 42 and 6 or 7 speed rear.
Who knows? What I do know is I have a complete early 600 in my possession so that will be cheapest

zukahn1 

I would go with a 42 front and 7 speed rear if your looking to go single shifter.

Velosophy

I did wet sand with 1000 before shooting second color coat. It’s ready for clear but before that I’m going to get some decals etc.

if it is a 1975 Olympic (and I Dont know what the model name is for sure), what type tubing is it most likely made from. I’d like to order a tubing decal with some others.

And I have decided to go with shimano 600 full group with either 6 or 7 rear. But I do have one question for the experts out there. I’d like to run a vintage looking tapered crank and rings. Will they work ok with early 600 shimano derailleurs?
Thanks
Joel

Aubergine 

I built up an old Olympic from a bare frame. It was a few years older than yours, and I was hoping this pic showed a tubing decal. Can't quite tell, alas. In any case it was a very nice bike to ride. I had fun with it but passed it on in time.

Velosophy

Aubergine, thanks for posting that picture of your Olympic, cool much appreciated! Triple with bar ends and fenders, nice ride. Definitely the same lugs. I’ll be sure to post more pics of build as I move forward. It will be a surprise when I show the final paint scheme. I think it will a be a love/hate, but as they say, “is what it is”

Hummer

The tubing decal is possibly this one:





The decal on the @Aubergine Olympic is:


This Olympic is older than the OP's Olympic.

Velosophy

Thanks for those posts! That’s helpful hope to purchase some decals today.

Aurora cycle wow that’s near my old stomping grounds where I did all my riding before my drivers license and police lights on my six but I digress

Velosophy

Original paint had gold outline on lugs. So I said let’s just do gold lugs. I’m happy with the result. Have to have my head examined after that taping job!

Aubergine 

Wow.