STORE CLOSED
DUE TO DEATH
OF PROPRIETOR
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VINTAGE RARE 'KING' SAN A BICYCLE
This mamma cherie style bike was made by the AAA Bicycle Company of Tokyo, Japan. It has been extensively reconditioned; all parts are original except for the front brake pads, which have been replaced by MAFAC pads. The 22" wheels take hook-bead tires, which are held on by both a pronounced bead and a flap of rubber underneath the tube. The brakes are both rod-actuated; the rear one is a band brake. The bike is rideable. It was intended to be used by a small middle-aged person to take the short ride to get her miso soup and rice for dinner; the brakes will not be effective in stopping a large person at 'normal' riding speed.
The cranks are 100mm long. The AAA Company's logo of a chainring made from three 'A's and the words 'San A' appear 86 times, it seems. Those who have said 'ishi-nishi-san-she-go' know 'san' means three in Japanese. We think it was made between 1946 and 1953.
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