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Author Topic: Who is Henry Abe?  (Read 11505 times)

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Offline RupertB

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Who is Henry Abe?
« on: October 19, 2010, 04:25:05 PM »
Was pondering what the origin of my 750s wheels was - you can see them on the little pic next to this, and also on a pic I uploaded - they have 'Japan' cast onto them but I didn't recognise them, then found this on ebay -
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NOS-Star-wheel-Henry-Abe-CB750-Chopper-cafe-bobber-NR-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem3cb1bdcb79QQitemZ260680043385QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

Look like a much smarter version of mine - but if they are 'Henry Abe', who is/was he? And are the wheels in any way worth keeping? I reckon suitably painted/polished they might look OK, but all opinions welcome.

Cheers all.
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Offline Retro Rocket

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Re: Who is Henry Abe?
« Reply #1 on: October 19, 2010, 04:34:10 PM »
There were lots of after market mag wheel builders in the 70's, some are getting quite rare now and i think the Henry Abe wheels are rarer than the Lester wheels for arguments sake. I have seen a set of 18 and 19 inch lester's go for 800+ USD. I would keep them even if i wasn't using them, but if you were wanting to sell them i don't think you would have any problems at all, they would probably last about a day on this forum.... ;)

Mick
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Offline CycleRanger

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Re: Who is Henry Abe?
« Reply #2 on: October 19, 2010, 04:57:18 PM »
Found this on another forum.

Company History

April 1972　Started as Henry Abe Industry Co., Ltd. in Osaka, Japan as an exporter of Harley Davidson parts to the U.S.A.
June 1974　Started to use Daytona brand.
November 1976　Headquarters moved to Iwata, Japan.
August 1979　Started R&D of original motorcycle parts and distribution in Japan.
June 1980　Started procurement from Taiwan.
March 1992　Set up Ricoland, the largest motorcycle parts & accessories retail shop in Japan.

Now trading as the Daytona International Trading Corporation.


http://daytona-global.com/company/history_of_daytona.html
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Offline RupertB

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Re: Who is Henry Abe?
« Reply #3 on: October 20, 2010, 12:23:46 AM »
Considering the whole bike only cost me 500 pounds (about 750 USD) I may for once have got a bargain. Normally I buy something which I end up tearing apart and someone knowledgeable says 'Hey I never knew you could get C50 pistons in one of those', or 'Wow - I thought they only went to plus 80 - yours must hold the record for rebores!'
Thanks again all.
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Offline Sam Green Racing

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Re: Who is Henry Abe?
« Reply #4 on: October 20, 2010, 01:47:40 AM »
Tommy, as a piece of historic memorabilia, the frame is probably worth £500.

Sam. ;)
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Offline Ricky_Racer

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Re: Who is Henry Abe?
« Reply #5 on: October 20, 2010, 09:00:11 AM »


Rupert, it's hard for my old eyes to tell from your Avatar photo... :-\  but if your wheels have seven spokes, they're probably Henry Abe. If six spokes, they're likely Shelby-Dowd.

How about some larger pics of that Foale frame?  Thanks. RR

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Offline RupertB

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Re: Who is Henry Abe?
« Reply #6 on: October 20, 2010, 12:48:47 PM »
Braving the cold weather that has just hit, I went to the garage just now and after a considerable effort managed to count to seven. That's the number of spokes so I guess I have hit lucky on the wheels then. The white paint looks to be badly applied and underneath they seem to be nice and shiny.
Will try to upload a few pics later.
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Offline RupertB

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Re: Who is Henry Abe?
« Reply #7 on: October 20, 2010, 02:19:44 PM »
This should upload a pic of the frame - if it works I'll put another few up. Can someone remind me how to get to the gallery to upload please?!
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Offline RupertB

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Re: Who is Henry Abe?
« Reply #8 on: October 20, 2010, 02:22:02 PM »
It worked! Here's another -the frame from the top rear angle
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Offline RupertB

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Re: Who is Henry Abe?
« Reply #9 on: October 20, 2010, 02:23:33 PM »
An example of Mr Abe's work it seems...
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Offline fishhead

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Re: Who is Henry Abe?
« Reply #10 on: October 20, 2010, 03:54:29 PM »
Most of the Henry Abe wheels I have seen usually had "HAINST" (or something like it = Henry Abe Industries) cast in them some where, usually around the cast part of the rim between the spokes.

http://fishheadbigbrakes.com/Wheels.html


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Offline RupertB

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Re: Who is Henry Abe?
« Reply #11 on: October 21, 2010, 03:28:53 PM »
Success - the front wheel has H.A. Industry on it, along with what looks like a date of 03/77, and also 2/4 whatever that means. The rear just seems to have 'Japan' cast into it, but it looks like a pair. There may be more on it when I get the tyres off, but for now I am happy with my Abe bonus!
Thanks all for the info.
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Offline spiritof67

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Re: Who is Henry Abe?
« Reply #12 on: November 27, 2010, 04:01:07 PM »
I've got a Henry Abe CB750 air cleaner. It looks like a Triumph Trident unit; thin, air holes all around - but it has the CB750 velocity stacks inside.

The cleaner element is foam. I got it as a "CB750 air cleaner" with no name back in the 70's and it's going on my street CR750/Read Titan bike.

There were a LOT of Henry Abe CB750 parts out there in the 70's - I've seen wheels, piston kits, fairings, seats and I've heard there's lots more we never saw in tne West. Anybody got a list?
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Offline LESLIE RITCHIE

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Re: Who is Henry Abe?
« Reply #13 on: August 15, 2018, 03:33:18 AM »
I HAVE A SET OF HENRY ABE WHEELS ON A HONDA CB550 FOUR , I AM THINKING OF BREAKING THE BIKE AND SELLING THE WHEELS ON EBAY . COULD ANY ONE TELL ME A GOOD STARTING PRICE .
LES .
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Offline PeWe

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Re: Who is Henry Abe?
« Reply #14 on: August 15, 2018, 03:46:01 AM »
Henry Abe made big bore kits too. Marked HAINST inside pistons
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Offline cooleronthecoast

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Re: Who is Henry Abe?
« Reply #15 on: August 18, 2018, 11:14:46 AM »
Can you run those wheels with tubeless tyres Leslie?    Do you have photos of the complete wheels?
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Offline RAFster122s

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Re: Who is Henry Abe?
« Reply #16 on: August 18, 2018, 04:45:20 PM »
Usually? Rims capable or running tubeless are marked as such...fwiw. Do not recall Henry Abe's being marked though... Honda wheels were marked in late 70s when Comstars came out and were capable of being ran tubeless. I am betting they are tubeless. 

The market has cooled for Henry Abe and Lester's from what it was 5 yrs ago. Now a set usually doesn't net more than 4 to maybe 600 if they are in nice shape. Needing refinishing they go for about 1/2 that. They have gone for 200-250 in nice shape. EBay has really dropped off in usage by general population.
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