C.Itoh Super Light (1974)
C. Itoh Super Light (all aluminum exc ST) / 23" / 1974
SR alloy / SR alloy
Alloy lugs w- steel blades
27x1 1/4 / Sunshine 36 hole alloy hub / steel
somebody's sister's 26" Huffy wheel
SR
None / C. Itoh, Kabuki, Bridgestone custom quill
Shimano ratchet / Shimano 500
Dia Compe Center Pull
10 speed minus front chainring and derailleur (5 speed)
C. Itoh was a rebranded Kabuki which was the name used by Bridgestone in '70s when Japanese names were hot sellers. Bridgestone didn't sound Japanese enough. C. Itoh rebranded everything from dot matrix printers to bicycles. This frame is of particular interest because it is all aluminum except for the seat tube and fork blades. Called a Super Light, they were easilly identified because they used clamp-on cable guides instead of braze-ons because of the aluminum tubes. The technology behind the mechanical bonding of the cast lugs was said to have been the best bond ever, but because of inflexibility of cast aluminum the seatpost was a unique design. The seat tube on this model was made out of steel because of the seat post binding mechanism.