DISRAELI GEARS

Maruishi

Maruishi SR1 main image Maruishi SR1 main image Maruishi SR1 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 two 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 Sanyo, produced the amazing PC ('Perfect Change') series of electronic systems. 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.


see also Japan's Bicycle Guide '56 1956

see also Japan's Bicycle Guide '56 1956

Japan's Bicycle Guide '56 - front cover 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 Cycles - Sports Cycles (1973?)

Maruishi Cycles - Sports Cycles (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

Japanese Patent S51-35936 - Maruishi thumbnail


Maruishi - No Need to Steer with One Hand 1975

Maruishi - No Need to Steer with One Hand 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


Maruishi - PC sticker 1976?

Maruishi - PC sticker 1976?

  • Publisher: Maruishi
  • Date: ±3074§!1976§£?
  • Derailleur brands: Maruishi
  • Derailleurs: Maruishi PC
Maruishi - PC sticker (1st style) thumbnail


Maruishi - PC sticker 1976?

Maruishi - PC sticker 1976?

  • Publisher: Maruishi
  • Date: ±3074§!1976§£?
  • Derailleur brands: Maruishi
  • Derailleurs: Maruishi PC
Maruishi - PC sticker (2nd style) 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


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