Suzy Jackson wrote:
"to re-paint it, as by doing so I may be effectively vandalising it. On the other hand, it's extensively rusted, and I'm concerned that despite my best efforts to preserve the bike as it is, it will continue to deteriorate. Would it be a reasonable approach to make a duplicate of the frame, and to paint the duplicate as the original (admittedly applying some amount of guesswork to fill in areas of paint that are missing from the original) would have been when it left the factory? Or would this be seen as a heinous sin?"
Sue, IMHO, before ya go duplicating the frame, get this one ridable to see ifin ya like the ride. Certainly use the paint scheme and graphics as inspiration for a "plagiarism" project if you like (with appropriate "false" labels etc. like B.Baylis' "Masi replica". (WOW!!! WHAT A BIKE!!!)). Remember you have the most precious of commodities: originality. To help bring back the original look of your new treasure, try a trick of the auto restorers, one that I just used on my 1951 Raymond Valance constructor touring bike (all original!!!). Get some white Dupont rubbing compound (finer then the "red"so less abrasive), use a wet old super soft cotton rag; an old tee shirt that maybe because of the now very faded cycling graphics (Velo-Retro?) that is in the rag heap but only very sadly. I.e.: one with ALOT of MOJO. Using your index finger poking into a hunk of wet rag, take some of the white goop and gently rub the paint, NOT THE GRAPHICS (use "q-tip's" there and only SUPER gently iffin at all) , of years of dirt and grime. NOT too hard or ya go through the paint! Do one whole side of the bike and compare. Do the rust too; it won't get it all off but that's o.k. it's part of her history. Then wax with some really good automotive past wax. I like "zymol"; it smells like summer. Well, o.k., it smells like coconuts, which smells like Coppertone sun tanning lotion, which smells like the beach, which smells like the summer in Brooklyn, New York. Oh Brighton Beach, Manhattan Beach, CONEY ISLAND! SAN DIEGO! Hey, they got "fudgie wuddgies" on the beach in San Dye Eggo? "GET ya Fudgie Wuddgies"!!! But, I digress. The Valance came out exquisite after a few hours elbow grease. Your Malvern Star will really SHINE! Then do the inside with some Peteie Weigle "framesaver" and yer set. Take more before close ups and afters.
ciao,
Johnny Pergolizzi
one more week
New York, N.Y.