I recently came across some Reynolds Pelissier handlebars, which look quite old and I am wondering if anyone knows what years they might have been made -- I am hoping they would be right for a late 40's lightweight.
The bars do not have any sign of plating on them, so they might have been painted or even celluloid covered when new. The current finish is mostly rust with traces of what might be paint, but they are still structurally sound. I have never actually seen any celluloid covered bars -- was this a purely cosmetic coating or was it a substitute for tape and grips? Is the fact that I have never seen any due to celluloid not lasting for this many decades, or is it more likely that I just haven't been looking?
Hugh Thornton
Nantwich, England