C.itoh...
 

Picked up a "celery green" C.ITOH,the other day. Its in decent condition...but it was converted into "single-speed",messenger cycle. I'm going to convert it back to its former 10 speed glory. Question...Are most Japanese cycles "lightweight"??? This ITOH makes my Schwinn "Varsity",feel like a "boat anchor". lol

Your Schwinn Varsity is what makes your Schwinn Varsity feel like a boat anchor. Nice upgrade. :thumb:

Welcome to the forums. C.Itoh was a Japanese trading company that imported C.Itoh and Kabuki branded bicycles manufactured by Bridgestone during the 1970s. Your bicycle has hubs with wingnuts, suggesting that it is from the early 1970s. The exact date can be determined from the serial number.

C. Itoh marketed a wide range of bicycles, from entry level up to professional racing grade. Most early 1970s 10 speeds had a weights of 20-30 lbs, depending on the grade of components and frame tubing. Schwinn's Varsity, at ~40 lbs was considered very heavy even in it's day. For instance, in 1973, the Varsity had an MSRP of $103.95. Its main competition at the time were the Peugeot AO8 ($109.95) , Raleigh Record ($99.95) and Nishiki Sports Cycle ($99.00). They all had claimed weights of 29-31 lbs.

Bike was not built by the sidekick from "Quincy, M.E.", I take it? That would have been my guess. :)

https://fiftiesweb.com/tv/quincy-Robert%20Ito.jpg

The early C. Itoh bikes had
wonderfuld downtube decals: " Guaranteed World Finest Bicycle Precision Mechanism". Yes, "World" had no possessive punctuation.