Originally Posted by
T-Mar
While your frame has the same serial number format of some Sekai bicycles manufactured during the late 1970s, it does not appear to be a Sekai. All Sekai frames were contracted manufactured by various source who manufactured for multiple brands/companies.
I have a Sekai catalogue which I've dated to circa 1978 and while it shows two CrMo BMX frames, the characteristics do not match yours. Neither frame has the head gusset. Nor do they exhibit the box bridge behind the bottom bracket shell or the rear triangle stays fabricated from a single bent tube.
Thanks much for the quick response.
Do you know if there was continuity in the product lineup after the original company was sold in '77? I ask as that serial format only seems to appear on a few '77 bikes, or was it also found on later models?
As I said, these have generally been considered Sekais, but the serial format similarity is the only thing that I've found which lends any support to the theory (apart from obvious similarities to known later Sekai bmx frames manufactured from '79 onward.)
What I'm wondering is if this was a model the original owners spec'ed before the sale and which was not continued after. Not trying to lead to that conclusion, just trying to find something more definitive either way.
Regardless, any chance you could post an image from your catalog sometime? Sound like the frames were quite different from the later, known models.
Thanks again.