Sam Bartolomeo wrote: "I have painted and sold a few New world and Superior lightweights over the past few years pre war to early 50s stuff. The tourist models I have worked on have lead in the weld areas to clean up the appearance. Lead was commonly used in automobile body repair in that time period. I have noticed something, the early track racer I have has no lead in the weld areas. It is a very early one so it may be the first bikes were like that then they decided to clean them up. One other answer is that the racing bikes were left that way and the tourist models were cleaned up. Every pre war Tourist I have seen has had lead in the weld areas except the BB. Does anyone have the answer to this question?
Many years ago, I started to refinish a Schwinn Town and Country Chrome-Moly tandem, curved rear seat tube. the original owners had lavished great care on drilling and minimizing weight. I was stripping paint with a propane torch (silly boy!) when the lead started running out from under the charred paint. GRONNNKKKK!
harvey sachs
mcLean (not MacLean) VA