I just checked the boxes from the restock, just a tiny bit, though... No, wait... it wasn't so much a "check" as it was something completely beyond my understanding... A-anyway, I'm going to tell you what just happened (?!)
To all our brass fans out there, thank you so much for your patience. The absolute masterpiece of all masterpieces, the Brass Fenders brought to you by SimWorks and Honjo Koken, are finally back in stock.
What exactly is Brass?
Brass. To put it simply, it's that "bling-bling, super shiny" metal. No, I'm not talking about the jewelry rappers or pro baseball players wear; that’s gold. Gyro Zeppeli's teeth? Those were likely gold, too.
Because it is a metal that is easily shaped by heat, it is used for stylish interior goods, ornaments, and stationery.
About Brass, Kawaki Kanamono Co., Ltd. (06/01/2022)
Naturally, the color of metal changes depending on the proportions of its contents and the amount of heat applied.
Zinc, which makes up a large portion of it, gives a reddish tint and a softer feel when the content is low, and takes on a golden, harder characteristic when the zinc content is high.
Brass refers to alloys with a zinc content of 20% or more, resulting in a metal that is slightly reddish with a balanced mix of strength and flexibility.
The most familiar brass product is the Japanese 5-yen coin. Legend has it that the origin lies in recycling scrap metal from shell casings, ammunition belts, and weapons used in wars. That’s eco-friendly for you.
Aside from that, it has high electrical conductivity, so it’s used in connecting equipment like wall outlets.
Boasting excellent hot forgeability, brass can be shaped into complex forms when heated. It also has great ductility, allowing it to be worked without breaking, which makes it perfect for being hammered thin or drawn out fine. Its high machinability also makes it a go-to material for precision parts.
Man, that's incredible... (Chemistry is my absolute worst subject, so please Google it if you want to know more about the specific ratios.)
The Appeal of Brass
Like leather goods, brass deepens in color as you use it, turning into a soft, tarnished hue. Think of antique furniture and you’ll get the picture. Brass knobs and handles pair incredibly well with antique pieces.
While some might call it "aging and deterioration," calling it "aging and evolution" feels more accurate.
The products made from such a material have finally returned. No matter who writes it, the intros in Circles articles are always too long!!!
SimWorks by Honjo Brass Products
SIMWORKS Turtle 58 Brass
Size: For 650b
Price: ¥22,000
SIMWORKS Turtle 44 Brass
Size: For 700c
Price: ¥20,680
The evenly spaced hexagonal patterns reinforce the strength of the fender through their overlapping folds. Brass is a relatively soft material, so the "tortoiseshell" (turtle) pattern was a natural choice to improve strength for practical use, resulting in an elegant fender that evokes the beauty of fish scales. We have them available for 650B and 700c. (And to all our wide-tire enthusiasts, I’m sorry to say this, but due to the soft nature of brass, it’s difficult to mold into wider sizes, and it seems anything wider than 58 is currently tough to manufacture.)
SIMWORKS Turtle Bell
Price: ¥9,680
An elegant, tortoiseshell-style bell that brings to mind a golden koi fish. Crafted one by one using the original SimWorks turtle die, it’s handmade in every sense. It has a great presence, and the brass body produces a sound with exceptional sustain... but please don’t ring it unnecessarily as it might startle pedestrians (apparently, ringing your bell without good cause is against the law). Please ride safely.
Here are some brass fenders that have been nicely broken in, showing off their unique character. These are some good-vibe photos provided by MAT in Hokkaido.
So nice... Some call it "poor man's gold," but that’s not true at all. The tarnished texture that comes with aging is simply beautiful. It pairs exceptionally well with beautiful steel bikes, too.
And if you take care of it properly, you can always bring back its shine.
Di molto! Di molto! (It’s so, so good!)
We have other brass products, too
There’s this mysterious page, "The Brass Catalog," that’s been pinned to the top of our web shop for quite a while now.
I tried collecting every brass product I could find. The thumbnail is a sousaphone. It’s an instrument used in brass bands and marching bands, and yes, it’s brass. I mean, brass instruments are almost always made of brass. A "brass band" is literally a Brass Band. (As an aside, believe it or not, I was in a brass band myself. Played percussion, though lol).
In any case, the point is that brass products are great for a little accent piece. We have some smaller items, too, so be sure to take a look.
By the way, the black fenders installed on Kimura-san’s Doppo ATB are actually brass fenders painted black, inspired by Leica cameras.
The way the brass color peeks through as the paint wears off is just insanely cool. If you talk to Kyutai Paint, our in-house painting department, they can recreate this look for you.
Man, these brass fenders are just so cool... and beautiful, aren't they? To say the least, they’re like sculptures by Michelangelo!
