Tom wrote ;
>
> Thanks to all for the reports and pics. But I do have to ask, Bob, how
many Flying Scots left the factory with a California Pink paint job?
>
Probably very few, but I have to qualify that, as Brian unwittingly carried on a tradition that has been part and parcel of Flying Scot's since they were first produced in the mid 20's.
Throughout most of the company's existance, the choice of colour was down to the customer. There were however about six base models in about the same number of basic colours offered in plain, flamboyant (colour over nickel plate) or metallic for those that couldn't choose or wanted it simpler, but otherwise every frame and complete machine was offered to the customer in either black or colour to choice. (of interest it wasn't a "factory" as such but a workshop similar perhaps in size to a modern light industrial unit over here or a large cycle shop like Dale owns, and the total manning including the owners/partners & part time sales staff was about 20 when they were at their peak.
As almost all Flying Scots were supplied custom specified and built to a greater or lesser degree, you are unlikely to ever come across two exactly the same - unless of course they were specified that way. I have seen some really odd colour combinations that came that way from new - for example milk chocolate brown, with contrasting pink panels and brown head tube, and some exquisit ones - like mixing flamboyant red and plain red on the same frame, or the obscure ones like a Scot in it's original finish of the Holdsworth team colours of the 70s. Everything else from lugs to frame fittings could be specified before you even thought of what components to fit, and really only your wallet held the limit. This is part of what made them so popular was the ability to ride the same frame performance wise, as the guys with all the bells and whistles at a price more suited to your own pocket.
This example ;
http://www.flying-scot.co.uk/
Shows just how far down the customer could specify how his machine would end up...
Well done to Brian for carrying the Scot flag in California and picking up the best paint award. He can now sell this colour scheme in his latest enterprise, as the award-winning 'Photoshop Red' .
Question is - are there any photographs of the other Scot (1960s) that was due to appear, or can the owner get in touch ?
Best regards
Bob Reid
Stonehaven
Scotland