| Country: | Japan | Primary Focus: | Bicycle Frames |
| Years of Operation: | 1951 - 1989 |
| General Information |
Mr Konosuke Matsushita, founder of National/Panasonic, was an adoptee into a family who operated a bicycle shop. His first product was a socket which would accept two light bulbs screwed into one light fixture. From there he built an empire of electric, electronic, banking, appliances and of course bicycles and bicycle tires. He was passionate about cycles and cycling.
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| History |
History by Year
1989
- Final year of Panasonic Bicycle sales in North America
1980
- Began to export bicycles to T.I. Raleigh (U.S.A.)
- Japanese Olympic Bicycle Team adopted Panasonic racing bicycles for the 1980 Moscow Olympics
1979
- Began to export frames and bicycles to Europe.
- Began to export frames and bicycles to Canada.
- Began to export frames and bicycles to Australia.
- Organized Panasonic/Shimano Racing Team in U.S.A.
1976
- Japanese Olympic Bicycle Team adopted our bicycles for the Montreal Olympics.
- Racing and 10 Speed bicycles were selected as up-to-date bicycles among the world bicycling manufacturers and demonstrated at Benjamin Franklin Institute in Philadelphia
1974
- Wheel Assembly Factory Established
1973
- Reward received for quality control from Osaka division of M.I.T.I.
1972
- Japanese Olympic Bicycle Team adopted our racing bicycles for Munich Olympics.
1971
- Panasonic Bicycles exported to the USA
1967
- Japanese National Team uses Panasonic/National Bicycles
1965
- National Bicycle factory established in Osaka
1962
- JIS License Granted For Complete Bicycles
1958
1956
- Sport type bicycle production begins
1952
- Production of a roadster-model bicycle by C.K.D. National Tire Company established
1951
- Bicycle frame production begins 1923 Battery powered bicycle headlamp was developed
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| Frame Models |
| Model | Category | Produced | Sold As | Examples |
| Panasonic PR-6000 | Road Race | Early 1990's | Complete Bicycle | 3 |
| Panasonic Team America | Road Race | 1985 - 1987 | Complete Bicycle | 1 |
| Panasonic Team Custom (PICS) | Road Race | 1988 - 1989 | Complete Bicycle, Bare Frameset | 1 |
| Panasonic DX-3000 | Road Sport | 1980 - 1989 | Complete Bicycle | 1 |
| Panasonic Sport 500 | Road Sport | 1980's | Complete Bicycle | 1 |
