2nd try with photo
Schwinn on the crank arm...

Thanks very much for this picture.

Chainset looks to be one of the Sakae Ringyo (SR) Silstar series. Certainly would not have come from the Kawamura facility with a Schwinn stamping.

Back in message #7 there is a photo of a brown American Flyer Jewel Gran-Sport bicycle fitted with a first generation Sugino Maxy chainset. This is more like what one might have expected from the factory. The manufacturer's "chainset partner" at this time was Sugino rather than SR or Shimano.

In thinking a bit more about the retailer, Diablo Bike, seem to recall they disappeared from their location sometime during the 1980's but cannot recollect a specific year. It is possible they may have fallen victim to the recession of 1982; a rough year in the cycle trade.

Chanced upon this web site hosted by a WCCS family member; gives a bit of the bicycle family's history:

About Howie Cohen, former owner of Everything Bicy

It's worth noting that the list of WCCS brand names include those that they actually owned (American Eagle, Azuki, Cycle Pro and Nishiki) and those that they only distributed (Kuwahara). There are two notable absences, Windsor, which they distributed and Mundo, which they owned. Unfortunately, there is no indication as to which category applies to American Flyer.

Thanks very much T-Mar.

Speaking of Windsor, have always wondered what years it belonged to WCCS and what years to Bicycle Parts Pacific. Do you happen to know?

IIRC WCCS also distributed Mondia for a period in the early seventies. Is that correct?

Thanks again! :thumb:

I don't recall seeing anything associating them with Mondia. I know they were involved with Windsor circa 1974-1975 but that distribution had passed to Alpha by 1978. I'd have to review some of the advertisements in my old magazines to delineate further.

Thank you T-Mar.

The wikipedia entry cited earlier states that WCCS was a distributor for Mondia. Then, of course as we all know, just because something is in wikipedia does not mean it is accurate. ;^D

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nishiki_(bicycle)

Yes, there are some photos in the Cohen collection that state WCCS was a distributor for Mondia. Also Zeus and Caloi.

As for Windsor, their distribution for model years appears to have been:

pre 1971: no North American manufacturing and probably very little, if any, distribution.
1971: unknown but probably WCCS
1972-1974: WCCS, confirmed
1975-1976: Linder Euro Imports, confirmed
1977: unknown
1978-1983: Alpha Cycle Supply, confirmed
1984+ : unknown

Just in case you are not aware, a 1973 road test states that Windsor was produced under license from Bianchi/Chiorda. I trust this helps.

Thanks so much for this very thorough answer T-Mar, much appreciated! :)

Was a bit surprised to read that Bicycle Parts Pacific was not part of the mix. Thought I recalled a Bicycling! magazine review of a Windsor machine which cited them. But then have had to accept that me auld "braine" jis' ain' what she us'd t'be. :50:

Wonder when WCCS was involved with Zeus. Seems like the U.S. had at least three Zeus agents for some of the 1970's. Everyone is of course familair with Zeus Cyclery Corporation of NYC but there was also D-I-N Sales Co. in Mountainview, California. I purchased all of their remaining Zeus odds and ends after they discontinued the line in the late seventies.

Thank you again! :thumb:

Photos in the Cohen collection indicate they were Zeus distributors circa 1972-1973. I know that some of the photos are incorrectly dated, but this seems reasonable.

Aha! :D

This would seem to fit in with a launch date I have seen for Zeus Cyclery Corporation of 1973.

This latter company had an existing business importing food products from Spain and then added the Zeus bicycle line. Both done from the same warehouse.