Unknown 1979 Japanese frame

[Steelframeman]

I’m hoping help to be able to identify my latest rebuild, I’ve really sent a lot of time trying to identify this bike, I’m not expecting it to be anything exotic, but would love to know the manufacturer, at least I could fit proper decals. It was in a mess so I’ve stripped it & had it professionally resprayed. It had been stored for a long time & hand painted, & the previous owner said it was Japanese ?

Some details - Seat post 26.mm / BB 68.mm / stem 22.2mm / the serial number NM6112 & is stamped on the downtube a few inches above the BB on the left side (unusual location) the forks are chromed & stamped Naniwa 5-79 the rear chain, & seat stay are also chromed.
The rims, hubs, cottered crank, seat post are all chromed steel, hubs Shimano dating is 1979 August, I think all the parts except the tyres are possibly original, maybe the saddle it’s a two rail style looks like a Japanese version of Brooks spring system.

There are no braze ons except the cable guides, there are no Allen bolts, very interesting is the down tube on the back side is cable guide stops these are fancy heart shaped.

Looking down through the head tube I can clearly see where the original two hole horizontal rivets where holding the manufacturer’s badge, The shifters are on the stem not the down tube. Interesting the wheel axle centre to centre is 140.cm which is a rather stretched frame so its possibly a touring model.
The nearest photo I’ve been able to find on the web is for a touring Panasonic but I don’t think the serial number format matches ?

All help & comments appreciated

 

[Jonny69]

It looks older than 70s to my eye. If you told me it was a British bike, I'd say it was 50s or early 60s. The thick deep lugs, style of fork crown, roadster style headset and the rear dropouts are all saying that to me.

 

[Steelframeman]

Appreciate your points, my only guess at age is based on the date stamped on the fork, & the Shimano date stamp on the hubs which I consider the least likely parts to be changed, also the rear drop spacing is 130.mm which tends to indicate around late 1970s although the rear drop out slots are about 35.mm long which tends to indicate older ? another pointer is the stem shifters these did not come out until about 1970s.

Another point I made a typo the wheel axle spacing is 104+.cm not 140.cm. forgot to mention the head set is Tange Industries but obviously not certain if they made the frame.

 

[mdvineng]

Fuji ? http://www.spoon-tamago.com/2014/05/16/ ... the-1970s/

 

[keithglos]

Re:

This is clearly a low end bike, reminded me of the US 10 speed bike boom of the early 1970s,

The owner is in malaysia and this has been previously discussed at length on another forum.

Keith

 

[Steelframeman]

Keith,

Yes but one has to try & tap all sources of knowledge just hoping someone will know or recognize it,
there is no harm as I mentioned above I realize its nothing exotic, but even vintage low end bikes in reasonable now are becoming less easy to find especially over here. I am British & have biked all my life but have retired to a warmer climate.