Panasonic's tubsets...
 

Hi Everyone!

Do any of you know where Panasonic sourced their tubing from back in the mid '80s? I'd imagine it would've been Tange, but...

My '86 DX-3000 is Tange.

http://panasonicbikemuseum.info/

Someone collected everything you'd ever want to know and then some. Nice site.

I have owned many Panasonics, all had Tange tubing of various grades. I would not be surprised if something else snuck in on a couple of models. I do not know who made their aluminum or titanium tubes.

The midrange and higher tubesets were predominantly Tange, though I don't lnow the source for their hi-tensile sets.

I ask because I just acquired a lovely 1984 Panasonic 'City Bike' (in "Imperial Red" no less) on CL for the extravagant sum of $25.

The frame is in nice shape, scuffs & fading aside; it fits me perfectly and it's light as a feather. The fork is Tange and (by weight) obviously Hi-Ten, and it's listed as such in the catalog (thanks Chome Molly), but the frame itself is simply listed as being chromo, and yet it's so light that I'm wondering if it isn't butted?

In the mid 80's it was mostly Tange although they did also use Columbus tubing on the higher end Team America, Team Europe and Team Japan models.