So I did some extensive searching on google but have come up with nothing besides a few random people selling and one thing on velospace. Does anyone have any info on Atami Samurai's or the manufactorer itself? I am probably going to pick up an old frame tomorrow to use as a project single speed/fixie unless you guys know of any info that would hinder that project. Thanks!

Never heard ot that marque. Be sure to share some pictures of it with us if you get it.

I found an atami frame at a junk store, and rebuilt it into somwhat of a road bike. I to could not find anything on the net about the company. I do like the way the frame is built, and she rides really nice. I rode it for 65 miles in the Chico wildflower this year.

I just found myself an Atami frame also, and am in the process of rebuilding the old bike from the 70's. Is it an old unknown company or something?

I could find nothing about the company as well. it seems to be built strong. I rode it in the chico wildflower century last year, going to ride my colnago this year. done.jpgdone2.jpgdone3.jpgpaint1.jpgpaint5.jpgbike5.jpgpaint.jpg

Under a tree I found it where I grew up. I'm sure this bike belongs to one of my older brothers and sisters. I'll do some digging to see if I can come up with the background story but the pictures should answer some of our mystery questions.

1) It is an Atami Samurai size unknown (does anyone know how to determine frame size?)
2) Frame color is a pretty fuschia (purple and magenta)



3) Here is the Atami and Samurai up close





4) As a new development, I'll add that I believe this was produced by a group named Sports Industries Seattle. Here you will find a picture of their logo on a sticker at the top of the left front fork. Cool samurai sword through the wording.



Quite a development!

5) The serial number of this bike is 29265! Quite a low number. Can anyone figure anything from this? Here are the pics. It is shown on the left lower seat post right above where it connects to the axle.




6) This one was sold or serviced by Ken's Cycles when it was on Highway 99. Based on a sticker found on the frame on the seat post.

7) The brakes were Shimano Tourney.



8) Cranks, flat type. Any guesses?




9) The original pedals. Guesses?



10) The rear and front hubs:





11) The brakes, not pictured are Shimano Dura ace and the rims are in okay shape.

I'm pretty sure this bike is all original and not updated in anyway as most of our bikes that I am finding are stock.

I hope this helps solve the mystery a bit.

Hi PWNAtami,

your bike is a dead ringer for an early 1970s Fred Deeley Apollo of Vancouver, British Columbia.

The dropouts, seat tube decals, serial number, brazed on cable guide stops, . . . Exactly the same.

Your bike has a "Sports Industries Seattle" decal. Interesting geographic connection.

These frames may be early Kuwahara frames, but I do not know this for sure.

Why do I think they are Kuwahara?

Early Takara and Apollo frames had a 5 digit serial number on the lower seat tube. Later, both of these brands had Kuwahara built frames with the standard Kuwahara serial number format on the lower seat tube.
The standard Kuwahara serial number was "yy mm xxxxx" where yy= two digits for year, mm= one or two digits for month, and xxxxx= five digit serial number.

The first Kuwahara serial numbers may have omitted the year and month digits.

Thanks for posting the pictures. I'll try to post some Apollo pictures.

I estimate the year of this Deelite Apollo as 1974.

I did some comparisons of the frame and at each tube entry the connections are exactly the same. The frame shapes are the same as the Apollo/Kuwahara bikes. This one is the same color as the one you happen to post. Given the geographical reference and the serial number similarities, add to that some subtle clues like the Japanese samurai sword through the logo and it is starting to add up. Here is an excerpt on history. I'm going to talk to some locals and dig into this a bit. Maybe we can add Atami to the list which includes Apollo and Azuki. Atami seems to fit right in and may have been the bike for the Seattle market which has always had strong pacific rim connections with japan.

"Kuwahara was founded in Osaka, Japan in 1918 by Sentaro Kuwahara. It was a family run business with help from his wife and eight children that made and sold bicycles and bike parts at first in his neighborhood, then growing and expanding more.
In 1925 Kuwahara began to export bicycles and parts to Russia, China and Southeast Asia. Kuwahara closed their doors for business temporarily from 1940 till 1945 due to World War II.
In 1947 Kuwahara reopened again for business and Sentaro Kuwahara became the first chairman of the board of directors of the first bicycle wholesale association in Japan.
In 1959 the very first and small shipment of bicycles were delivered to the USA. Sadly in 1960 founding company president Sentaro Kuwahara passed away and his Son, Masao Kuwahara took over in his place.
In 1962 Kuwahara sent it's first shipment of APOLLO brand sport (10 speed or 12 speed road racing) bicycles to Canada.
In 1968 Kuwahara started exporting bicycles to the USA as private label bikes for other companies such as Schwinn, Takara, Puch, Concord, Apollo, Azuki and others. Kuwahara had never produced their own Kuwahara brand bike outside of Japan until 1972 when Kuwahara began developing BMX bicycles for the Canada, the US, European and Australian markets. During the middle 1970's the BMX boom had started and Kuwahara was regularly exporting Kuwahara brand BMX's to these countries."

I just came across a Atami mixte bike at the goodwill store in Seattle. So this counts as another Seattle reference. The serial number starts with 75, so I would guess that is the year of manufacture. It looks like a great vintage frame. Nice lugs on the frame. 27 inch wheels. This goodwill store prices a bike that you could pump up the tires and ride at a price of around 50 bucks. Old rockhoppers with a part or two missing go for $29.00. This bike is priced at 69.00. So at least in the eyes of the goodwill pricing machine this is a higher value vintage bike. The hipsters in Seattle like vintage frames. I suspect it will go fast and find it's way on the streets as a single speed or an internal hub city bike.