mtb-timeline

—-

Wander Vogel

Wander Vogel was a brand of Joto Cycles which remains a wholesaler and importer of bicycles for the Japanese domestic market. Joto Cycle Co., Ltd. was founded by Tsunezo Terashima of Osaka, Japan in 1946 and soon provided touring and randonneur bikes based upon European designs solely for Japanese consumption. Wander Vogel mountain bikes appeared by 1983 and the last year of production appears to be 1996. No decent pictures from 1987-92 have been found. Serial numbers indicate some Wander Vogels were likely manufactured by Miki Seisakusho¹⁾ of Japan, with Tange butted tubing.

Tsunezo Terashima wrote a series of books entitled “Data Book 1,2,3 & 4” on cycling design and illustration, which have been compiled together in an English edition available at Amazon. He also produced a lovely cycling poetry and art collection called the “Wandervogel's Poem” ²⁾, found at https://nbsan1491.exblog.jp/15558049/.

Resources:

• https://joto-jp.com/
• https://www.disraeligears.co.uk/site/new_cycling_april_1964_-_wander-vogel.html
• https://wandervogelbicycletouring.com/what-is-a-wandervogel-anyway/
• http://cyclespeugeot.web.fc2.com/reminiscence/wandervogel64.htm
• https://www.proteanpaper.com/scart_results.cgi?comp=howiebik&framed=0&part=BookContemp-L308&scat=1&scatord=desc&scatall=no&skey=norm&srkeyall=&srkeywords=&srcateg=000000000000000267
• https://nbsan1491.exblog.jp/15558049/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wandervogel

Wander Vogel is German for “Wandering Bird” and described an outdoor movement that was popular in Germany 1895-1933 ³⁾ and thrives today by that name in Japan. There is no direct connection to the subsequent Hitler Youth and Japanese Empire Axis youth movements . Engrish lettering which is cool in Japan may produce a brand name with queasy connotations beyond its shores.

from Wandervogel's Poem, by Tsunezo Terashima nbsan1491
Hokusai in the Cotswolds.

Tsunezo Terashima, nbsan1491

1983 MTB

Shimano Deore XT M700 v1 (1982-84), Tange Champion #3 butted steel lugged frame and biplane fork, bullmoose bars, Tange headset

1983 MTB miyazakicycle

1984 MTB

SunTour MounTech v2 (1984-87) derailleurs, SunTour XC v1 (1984-86) shifters, lugged Tange frame with pointy lugs. Lugged(?) and brazed (or finely welded) bullmoose bars, biplane fork.

1984 MTB gino.shop-pro.jp

1985 MTB

Shimano RD-AL11 derailleurs (1984-86), bullmoose bars, socket fork with “Wangel” logo on crown, Tange Champion steel lugged frame.

1985 MTB miyazakicycle

1986 MTB

Shimano Deore MT730 (1986-88), SR MTS-100 slingshot stem (1982-85), Tange MTB tubing (1985-), 3×6 gearing (7 speed in 1987-8).

1986 MTB facebook

1987 MTB

Shimano Deore RD-MT60 (1987-88) derailleurs & shifters, Tange MTB double butted lugged frame, Shimano FC-B124 crankset (1986-87), Tange Levin headset, pump peg on rear of seat tube, lugged unicrown fork.

1987 MTB facebook