DISRAELI GEARS

Maruishi

Maruishi PC derailleur actuator (1st style) main image Maruishi PC derailleur actuator (3rd style) main image Maruishi PC 6 derailleur actuator main image

I was only aware of the Maruishi brand of bicycles in the early to mid 1980s. At that time the bikes were very well finished, very tidily designed, models with nicely chosen, mid-range, Shimano and SunTour equipment. There were a lot of Japanese bicycle brands with exactly these virtues - but Maruishis were no less impressive for that.

Within Japan, I think that Maruishi was quite an important and venerable brand of bicycles, possibly manufactured by Maruishi Shokai Limited. Different web sites provide different information about the history of Maruishi. Some say it was established in Yokohama in 1894. Others have it established in 1909, possibly in Tokyo. Japan's Bicycle Guide '56 incudes an advert giving an address in a part of Osaka that is called Fukushima (not to be confused with the site of the famous nuclear accident) and claims 50 years' experience (this was in 1956). A company called Maruishi Cycle Co., Ltd operates a web site (www.maruishi-cycle.com) that gives a founding date of 1972. This level of complexity is not that unusual for bicycle brands - I can think of any number of British bicycle brands that, over the years, have been owned by many different companies based at many different addresses.

Maruishi are represented on this web site for three reasons:

  • In the late 1950s and/or early 1960s, Sanko produce Maruishi branded versions of Sanko's, much admired, derailleur models. You can see some images here (the two Maruishi models shown at this link are the ones with the distinctive Maruishi circular logos).
  • In the late 1970s Maruishi, in collaboration with SunTour and Sanyo, produced a series of amazing electronic components. This culminated in the 'PC' 'Perfect Change' electronic derailleur gear system. These used an electronic gear lever connected by electric wires to a plastic box attached to the rear carrier. This box contained D-cell batteries, rudimentary electronic circuitry, a plethora of cogs and pulley wheels and an electric motor, all of which pulled a conventional Bowden cable to operate a conventional derailleur. The Maruishi PC can make a decent claim to be the first electronic derailleur system.
  • In the very late 1970s Maruishi released the 'IC' 'Ideal Change' indexed gear system. This was largely based on a rebranded SunTour Mighty Click, but may have been used with a 'front freewheel' chainset.


see also Japan's Bicycle Guide '56 1956

see also Japan's Bicycle Guide '56 1956

Japan's Bicycle Guide '56 - front cover thumbnail


Maruishi - postcard 1965?

Maruishi - postcard 1965?

Maruishi - postcard - scan 1 thumbnail


see also Transport Equipment News 03/1967 - Maruishi ad

see also Transport Equipment News 03/1967 - Maruishi ad

Transport Equipment News March 1967 - Maruishi advert thumbnail


see also US Patent # 3,732,787 - Maruishi 1971

see also US Patent # 3,732,787 - Maruishi 1971

US Patent 3,732,787 - Maruishi thumbnail


Maruishi Cycle - Sports Cycle (1973?)

Maruishi Cycle - Sports Cycle (1973?)

Maruishi Cycles - Sports Cycles (1973?) scan 1 thumbnail


see also Japanese Patent # S51-35936 - Maruishi 1974

see also Japanese Patent # S51-35936 - Maruishi 1974

  • Publisher: Japan Patent Office
  • Date: Priority date September 1974
  • Derailleur brands: Maruishi
  • Derailleurs: prototype Maruishi PC electro-mechanical system
Japanese Patent S51-35936 - Maruishi thumbnail


Maruishi - Sports Cycle (1974?)

Maruishi - Sports Cycle (1974?)

Maruishi - Sports Cycle (1974?) scan 1 thumbnail


Maruishi - No Need to Ride One Handed 1975

Maruishi - No Need to Ride One Handed 1975

Maruishi - No Need to Steer with One Hand scan 1 thumbnail


see also Japanese Patent # S52-112932 - Sanyo 1976

see also Japanese Patent # S52-112932 - Sanyo 1976

Japanese Patent S52-112932 - Sanyo thumbnail


see also Japanese Patent # S52-112933 - Sanyo 1976

see also Japanese Patent # S52-112933 - Sanyo 1976

Japanese Patent S52-112933 - Sanyo thumbnail


see also US Patent # 4,065,983 - Maruishi 1976

see also US Patent # 4,065,983 - Maruishi 1976

US Patent 4,065,983 - Maruishi thumbnail


see also Japanese Patent # S52-137836 - Sanyo 1976

see also Japanese Patent # S52-137836 - Sanyo 1976

Japanese Patent S52-137836 - Sanyo thumbnail


see also Japanese Patent # S52-155738 - Sanyo 1976

see also Japanese Patent # S52-155738 - Sanyo 1976

Japanese Patent S52-155738 - Sanyo thumbnail


see also Japanese Patent # S53-2842 - Sanyo 1976

see also Japanese Patent # S53-2842 - Sanyo 1976

Japanese Patent S53-2842 - Sanyo thumbnail


see also Japanese Utility Model # S53-74845 - Sanyo 1976

see also Japanese Utility Model # S53-74845 - Sanyo 1976

Japanese Utility Model # S53-74845 - Sanyo thumbnail


see also Japanese Utility Model # S53-87558 - Sanyo 1976

see also Japanese Utility Model # S53-87558 - Sanyo 1976

Japanese Utility Model # S53-87558 thumbnail


see also Eastern Cycle Industry News 01/1977 - Maruishi ad

see also Eastern Cycle Industry News 01/1977 - Maruishi ad

Eastern Cycle Industry News January 1977 - Maruishi advert thumbnail


see also US Patent # 4,143,557 - Sanyo 1977

see also US Patent # 4,143,557 - Sanyo 1977

US Patent 4,143,557 - Sanyo thumbnail


Maruishi - PC sticker 1977?

Maruishi - PC sticker 1977?

Maruishi - PC sticker (1st style) thumbnail


Maruishi - PC sticker 1977?

Maruishi - PC sticker 1977?

Maruishi - PC sticker (2nd style) thumbnail


Maruishi Cycle - If You're a Man, Make a Statement (1977?)

Maruishi Cycle - If You're a Man, Make a Statement (1977?)

Maruishi Cycle - If You're a Man, Make a Statement (1977?) scan 1 thumbnail


Maruishi Cycle - Ladies, Mini, Light Tourer & Children (1977?)

Maruishi Cycle - Ladies, Mini, Light Tourer & Children (1977?)

Maruishi Cycle - Ladies, Mini, Light Tourer & Children (1976?) scan 1 thumbnail


see also New Cycling 05/1981 - '81 Derailleur Collection

see also New Cycling 05/1981 - '81 Derailleur Collection

  • Publisher: New Cycling
  • Date: May 1981
  • Derailleur brands: too numerous to list here
  • Derailleurs: too numerous to list here
New Cycling May 1981 - Derailleur Collection page 017 thumbnail