In a message dated 10/20/2002 6:08:47 PM Eastern Daylight Time, HughWThornton@aol.com writes:
<< 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? >>
I have some "Celluloid" covered handle bars, I think dating from the 1940s, and the covering looks like a dense black* plastic coating about the same thickness as.... perhaps a plastic Pepsi Cola drink bottle? 5-7 mil?
Perhaps the bars were dipped in that stuff it certainly looks like it would have been diffiucult-to-impossible to slide on as a whole sleeve, Maybe it is a sort of "shrink wrap" like used electrical work.
In the case of celluloid bars, additional padding in the form of grips, sleeves or tape were still used on top ....
(* I wonder if "Celluloid" bars were available in other colors besides black?)
This is not to be confused with the various rubber sleeves that were used especially just post war which were made by many manufacturers including John Bull and Dunlop....
Dale Brown
cycles de ORO, Inc.
1410 Mill Street
Greensboro, NC 27408
336-274-5959
fax 336-274-6360
http://www.cyclesdeoro.com
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