What is this C.Itoh?
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
What is this C.Itoh?
Could you help me pinpoint the model/year of this C Itoh that was discarded in my friend's garage? As far as I can tell it's early 70s but I can't tell where it falls in the lineup. It's very rusty, spent a couple winters outside, but looks salvageable and I'm going to give it a good scrub to be a beater commuter.
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada - burrrrr!
Posts: 11,672
Bikes: 1958 Rabeneick 120D, 1968 Legnano Gran Premio, 196? Torpado Professional, 2000 Marinoni Piuma
Mentioned: 210 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1370 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,743 Times
in
934 Posts
Several have come my way, over the years. None were particularly impressive, as far as I was concerned. The one shown by the OP is, probably, the nicest one that I have seen. None of the ones I acquired sported any chrome on the frame and/or fork.
__________________
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
#3
Shifting is fun!
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: South Holland, NL
Posts: 11,004
Bikes: Yes, please.
Mentioned: 277 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2182 Post(s)
Liked 4,528 Times
in
1,744 Posts
It certainly looks salvageable, and with the "Italian ends" one could definitely make it into a good-looking commuter.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 23,233
Mentioned: 652 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4719 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3,034 Times
in
1,874 Posts
That looks like a boom era C. Itoh Tripping (yes, that's the actual model name). It was 2nd in the line-up. Typically, these were manufactured by Bridgestone, in which case the serial number should reveal the year.
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: south kansas america
Posts: 1,909
Bikes: too many
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 411 Post(s)
Liked 233 Times
in
139 Posts
I'm going to guess a 1973 model, based on styling cues and parts... when the original poster comes back with a year verification from the frame serial number, we'll see how close I am.
#6
Junior Member
Thread Starter
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: south kansas america
Posts: 1,909
Bikes: too many
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 411 Post(s)
Liked 233 Times
in
139 Posts
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 23,233
Mentioned: 652 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4719 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3,034 Times
in
1,874 Posts
C. Itoh of this era were typically manufactured Bridgestone, whose serial number format starts with an alpha character and has more than four characters. 8235 sounds more like a JIS Standard than a serial number.
#9
Junior Member
Thread Starter
This was below the BB, I can't find any other serial on the frame. Any particular area I should be looking at?
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 23,233
Mentioned: 652 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4719 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3,034 Times
in
1,874 Posts
I guess that could be the S/N or at least part of it. It sounds incomplete. My next dating tool would be component codes. The Sugino Maxy crankset is era correct and is likely OEM. It should be old enough to be using the Japanese Imperial Calendar, so the codes should look like 4x-(x)x, where x is a number. There should be a date code on the back of each crankarm.
#11
Senior Member
I'd say putting as little work into it to get it serving your purposes is about the best that this bike can ask for at this point.
#12
Junior Member
Thread Starter
47-11 and 47-9 on the back of the crank arms. I haven't been able to find much on the C Itoh Tripping online (I'm impressed by your knowledge!), do you know if it has any specs of interest?
I guess that could be the S/N or at least part of it. It sounds incomplete. My next dating tool would be component codes. The Sugino Maxy crankset is era correct and is likely OEM. It should be old enough to be using the Japanese Imperial Calendar, so the codes should look like 4x-(x)x, where x is a number. There should be a date code on the back of each crankarm.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 23,233
Mentioned: 652 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4719 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3,034 Times
in
1,874 Posts
I'm not sure what you by "specs of interest". The Tripping was a mid-range recreational touring model. There's not too much interest in C Itoh, even the top models.
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: south kansas america
Posts: 1,909
Bikes: too many
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 411 Post(s)
Liked 233 Times
in
139 Posts
OK, the crankarms are dated September and October of Showa year 47, which was 1972. That's late enough in the calendar year that it's almost certainly a 1973 model.
I'm not sure what you by "specs of interest". The Tripping was a mid-range recreational touring model. There's not too much interest in C Itoh, even the top models.
I'm not sure what you by "specs of interest". The Tripping was a mid-range recreational touring model. There's not too much interest in C Itoh, even the top models.
To the Okoweq... it's an early 70's, Japan built, probably high tensile steel, bicycle. It's a serviceable ride, with neutral steering, middle-of-entry-pack ride characteristics. There are still many parts out there, if you need them, to get it up and going, and keep it running. It's value lies in 1) getting you from here to there, and back, 2) it's easy to work on and understand, if you want to wrench on a bicycle, 3) it's not rare, or particularly special in any way, so you can do whatever to it you want, and lastly 4) it's yours. All four of those values makes it a greater commuter contender, in at least my eyes.
#15
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Nicely done! Thank you for your educated guess and for your comment, 1/2/3/4 is exactly what I'm looking for, especially 2 - already having some fun on the bike. Bonus: if it's not attractive, it might not get stolen during the errands. And if it does, I'll pick up another old bike to work on.
I'M THE WINNER!!!!!! No need to send a prize, I'll grab my prize outa my own fridge, pop the top of a brewsky, and cheer myself and my obscure (some say nearly worthless) bicycle dating skills.
To the Okoweq... it's an early 70's, Japan built, probably high tensile steel, bicycle. It's a serviceable ride, with neutral steering, middle-of-entry-pack ride characteristics. There are still many parts out there, if you need them, to get it up and going, and keep it running. It's value lies in 1) getting you from here to there, and back, 2) it's easy to work on and understand, if you want to wrench on a bicycle, 3) it's not rare, or particularly special in any way, so you can do whatever to it you want, and lastly 4) it's yours. All four of those values makes it a greater commuter contender, in at least my eyes.
To the Okoweq... it's an early 70's, Japan built, probably high tensile steel, bicycle. It's a serviceable ride, with neutral steering, middle-of-entry-pack ride characteristics. There are still many parts out there, if you need them, to get it up and going, and keep it running. It's value lies in 1) getting you from here to there, and back, 2) it's easy to work on and understand, if you want to wrench on a bicycle, 3) it's not rare, or particularly special in any way, so you can do whatever to it you want, and lastly 4) it's yours. All four of those values makes it a greater commuter contender, in at least my eyes.
Likes For okoweq:
#16
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Thank you T-Mar! Appreciate your insights
OK, the crankarms are dated September and October of Showa year 47, which was 1972. That's late enough in the calendar year that it's almost certainly a 1973 model.
I'm not sure what you by "specs of interest". The Tripping was a mid-range recreational touring model. There's not too much interest in C Itoh, even the top models.
I'm not sure what you by "specs of interest". The Tripping was a mid-range recreational touring model. There's not too much interest in C Itoh, even the top models.