Old Panasonic / National frame?
03-01-23, 04:37 PM
#1
Full Member
Thread Starter
Old Panasonic / National frame?
Any ideas roughly what year this might be? I'm guessing mid-70s, looking at the fork crown and lugs, and since it's a National (unless it was an Australia export, where I think they took a few more years to transition to Panasonic)? Also, is this the kind of bike where I'd be a heathen to make it a nice, low-maintenance single-speed for longish flat road rides?
03-01-23, 04:50 PM
#3
Phyllo-buster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 8,847
Bikes: roadsters, club bikes, fixed and classic
Mentioned: 133 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2298 Post(s)
Liked 2,055 Times
in
1,255 Posts
You're no heathen if you leave the frame as-is, no removal of hangers or braze-ons.
03-01-23, 04:51 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,435
Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones
Mentioned: 178 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5888 Post(s)
Liked 3,472 Times
in
2,079 Posts
That frame looks perfect for a single speed. You're not a heathen in doing that unless you drew the dropouts in which case you'll likely get banned from C&V.
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...inal-drew.html
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...path-bike.html
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...inal-drew.html
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...path-bike.html
03-01-23, 04:57 PM
#5
Full Member
Thread Starter
Oh god no. I would never, ever do that to a bike.
That frame looks perfect for a single speed. You're not a heathen in doing that unless you drew the dropouts in which case you'll likely get banned from C&V.
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...inal-drew.html
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...path-bike.html
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...inal-drew.html
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...path-bike.html
Likes For cormacf:
03-01-23, 05:55 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Rupert's Land
Posts: 1,243
Bikes: 1981 Raleigh GP, 1985 Norco Bush Pilot, . . .
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 241 Post(s)
Liked 187 Times
in
136 Posts
Looking at the components and the serial number: 1974.
By 1984 the Panasonic brand name was most often being used.
By 1984 the Panasonic brand name was most often being used.
03-01-23, 06:41 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Point Reyes Station, California
Posts: 4,529
Bikes: Indeed!
Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1508 Post(s)
Liked 3,480 Times
in
1,133 Posts
The 2214 was added after it left the factory, probably by a previous owner or a police department, with an engraving tool and an unsteady hand.
Brent
Brent
__________________
"I have a tendency to meander sometimes." B.G.
"I have a tendency to meander sometimes." B.G.
03-01-23, 06:56 PM
#8
Phyllo-buster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 8,847
Bikes: roadsters, club bikes, fixed and classic
Mentioned: 133 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2298 Post(s)
Liked 2,055 Times
in
1,255 Posts
See if that Maxy has a Sugino date code
03-02-23, 01:03 AM
#9
Stop reading my posts!
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 12,584
Mentioned: 90 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1444 Post(s)
Liked 1,064 Times
in
788 Posts
1974 looks like the perfect timeframe for this. Never seen a National/Panasonic as early, before, but the parent company, (let's see if the robot censor allows this name to be typed) Matsu****a, was selling appliances in the US as late as maybe 1978 that were still labeled "National", but I'm thinking of things like electric rice cookers, not bicycles.
Looks like a nice project, would like to see close-ups of the decals on the seat tube, too
Nope, the robot still thinks that's a dirty word, even tho you can (almost) read it on the top tube decal next to "NATIONAL".
Looks like a nice project, would like to see close-ups of the decals on the seat tube, too
Nope, the robot still thinks that's a dirty word, even tho you can (almost) read it on the top tube decal next to "NATIONAL".
