crank_addict

I don't know anything about it but couldn't resist the wonkiness of it. Anyone know of them? Company history or approximate age of this one?

From my initial assessment. Appears all original-

Ranger Ultra T.U by Standard Cycle Company Inc.
Made in Japan
10 speed

Shimano skip tooth cogs
cottered crank
beer tap shifters
Shimano Eagle rear derailleur
Shimano Thunder bird front derailleur
unknown centerpull brake calipers
turkey brake levers
JUN stem
Sakae Custom drop bars
unknown brand large flange hubs
alloy wing nuts front
27" rubber
alloy mudguards
longitude and coil spring saddle
fave part is the neeeto bar wrap

crank_addict

All I could find of T.U was established in 1925. Now lease real estate and conduct internet bike / related sales.

dwightisright

Judging from the parts I think we can say early bike boom. 1970-1973 0r 75. the derailuers are mostly steel. The crank set would be steel too, it's cottered. The "turkey brake levers" are a bad idea. I would also think the rims are steel. I wouldn't put a lot of money into it. But if you enjoy riding it ride it.

crank_addict

Going forward, certainly don't want to spend much on it but only in labor. I could do a few funky monkey wrench things to it. I like the bar wrap but those brake levers have to go. I also like the beer taps and possibly relocate to the downtube. Or.... scrap the entire idea, box the parts and make it a fixed gear.

Wheels are in great shape but have to go with an aluminum rim.

rhm

Woah, you couldn't resist that, eh? You, sir, need to raise your resistance!

Tsunoda also made Lotus, a line that included some very fine bikes. In addition to this one, I mean.

crank_addict

^^^ha Rudi-
Isn't that saddle one fine piece of 'naugahyde'?!


edit: Sake do things to one
Good fortune to you!

non-fixie 

Gotta love the Japanese. Even the cheap stuff is made with such attention to detail. I really like that cable stop stop braze-on:

rhm

Indeed! I hadn't realized they still had naugas in Taiwan. They are sadly extinct in their original habitat, Connecticut.

I like the riveting job on that saddle badge. Hey, it's near the hole... kinda.

OldsCOOL

Dang, it's a Japanese Schwinn Collegiate.

I had a '72 Motobecane Mirage about that heavy.

Lascauxcaveman 

Gaaaaahhh! That bar tape! I know that properly applied, cheap hockey tape can look OK on bars, but that ain't happening here.

I really dig the shifters, though. In the appropriate 70's lingo, they're boss. Chopper boss.

crank_addict

Oooh, the bar tape is what I dig! Reminds me of the Japanese lanterns. And it glows with that color. Anyhow, I'm leaning towards my first fixed gear conversion. Normally wouldn't consider it but somehow think this bike is appropriate. Probably with 700c CX rubber and keep the chopped mud guards. Even the US marketing name of 'Standard Cycle' boldly on the top tube means 'fixie'.





(I actually have some vintage circa 1950 large Japanese lanterns. Beautiful handmade pieces.)

dwightisright

Will I think doing the fixie thing is fine. But I think maybe using the 27 wheels would be a way to go. 700c wheels would cost you more then what the bike is worth. you would also have to think about using different brakes, maybe. More cost. I still think about riding it as is. I would still get rid of the "turkey levers" retape the bars, which you are going to do. I might get rid of the rear wheel spoke protecter. Tune up the derailuer. All this stuff is easy things to do. But the most important thing is to have fun with this bike, you cannot hurt it value wise.

Your Japanese lanterns are great looking. Wish I had one or two.

crank_addict

Thanks for the tips. I have a spare 27" aluminum wheelset and another in 700c. Leaning towards 700c only because I have quite a selection of CX tires and like riding gravel. The quirky bottom feeder bikes oddly draw me in, but thinking if I preserve this one, probably won't appeal enough to ride it. I do have other bikes but have never tried a fixed gear. I don't want a coaster either.

With this one, I'll have a reason to explore a different kind of riding. Pounds of parts will shed and be boxed away. I cringe when spotting high end rides hacked into fixie's, but this is a budget bike. Furthermore, all components will be saved complete for another day.

(And thanks for the comp on the lanterns. That was just a stock image. Mine are far older, hand painted, very large festive type.)

dwightisright

Have fun with it. Yeah it is bad when you see high end bike turn to fixies. But I like the idea of "Bottom Feeder" bikes, we all have or had one or two in our life time. Keep us posted on your bottom feeder. One of the Guitar magazines that I read has a page or 2 written about bottom feeder guitars. I have a bass that is truly bottom feeder, pulled it out of a dumpster.