Originally Posted by
VintageAl
Hi T-Mar,
My first post. First thank you for the information you posted on page 65 of the thread. It helped me identify the year of a Nihiki Altron I bought off Yahoo Auction. It is quite different to the images from the earlier 80s Altron 7000 and USA 1994 catelogue.
Sorry can't post images yet.
The Sigma Design seems to be a Japanese Domestic model. The coding from the post on page 65 on this thread : C10 XXXX and the tange fork stamping (you suggested) 93M correspond to my frame.
The coding on my Altron D10 2XXX and the forks are stamped 94MA. The frame and fork I bought were unused and unassembled with only a seat post clamp (no headset or bb). I have since assembled the bike with 1055 and 1056 Shimano components and Sakae stem, bar and seatpost.
I have seem 4 or 5 more Sigma Design models on Japanese webites and blogs. Some of those sights suggest these Nishiki models are of Kawamura origins. My understanding is the Kawamura company continued bicycle production up until the 1995 Hanshin Earthquake stopped production in Kobe.
Here's a link to your photo album, though the pictures are quite small.
https://www.bikeforums.net/g/album/15902490
Yes, it sounds like you have a 1995 model manufactured in October 1994. It's possible that Kawamura changed it's format in the 1990s, but unfortunately I can't corroborate that. I'm used to Kawamura product having either the head badge with their tri-colour emblem or a Kawamura decal. I briefly owned a 1991 NFS Altron but there were no Kawamura decals. I'm assuming yours lack Kawamura decals too.
Nishiki's presence in the USA marketplace slowly eroded in the early 1990s. I haven't seen a USA market road bicycle later than 1994, while 1995 is latest I've seen for ATBs and hybrids. Based on the photos, it sounds like Sigma Design may have been the Asian market equivalent to the NFS (Need For Speed) series in the USA.
I've haven't seen the 1994 USA catalogue. Is it available online? If so I'd appreciate a link. Thxs for posting. Enjoy your new acquisition.