Nishiki site? Did somebody pilfer my serial number analysis from the first post in this thread?

Based on hundreds of Nishiki serial numbers I've collected, all the pre-1975, Kawamura built Nishiki used a KSxxxxxx format. The alpha year indicator does not appear to have come into play until 1975.

Is it really a "D"? It looks like it's round on the top, left hand side, almost like it's an oh or zero.

Yours is not the first Pro to surface using a non-standard serial number. It suggests that Kawamura either subcontracted these frames and/or had a separate in-house facility, with their own serial number system, to manufacture the high end frames. The latter is not without precendent. Bianchi had a Reparto Corse division for their high end frames. Unfortunately, not enough Pros turn up to confidently analyze the data. At this point, all I can say is that it is 1972-1974.