Original Message: ----------------- From: Bob Reid robertrreid@tiscali.co.uk Date: Mon, 8 Nov 2004 18:07:44 -0000 To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: Re: [CR]Flamboyants vs. Polychromatics
"Raleigh seem to have made considerable use of the term "polychromatic" from the early 50s, but whilst it looks marginally metallic, I'm not entirely convinced as yet."
Marginal is the word but as Dale suggested the flakes in these earlier metallics were just more subtle. And truth to tell, these early paints aged terribly. Or was Raleigh getting used to spray painting? The latter is certainly possible. Remember that anything black (which was 95 per cent of production once upon a time) was DIPPED. Not sprayed. That black goop lasts forever. British Bicycle Black rules. Wonderful. So wonderful that Raleigh actually dipped frames in black before spraying them in a colour coat. The adhesion is dreadful and I have a '49 Clubman that's been trying to shed her Polychromatic Olive and return to her black roots.
"I've about 150 old bottles of Raleigh touch up paint in a variety of colours dating from the 50s to the late 70s, that were stored in a dark dry store for a long time, most of which still have liquid contents. One day I'll end up airbrushing these onto test panels to try and recreate some of these original finishes."
Love to see that assuming yours have held up better than mine. These old celluloise based paints age terribly, they remain liquid but the colours turns to the shade of exposed cine film I've found. I have 12 bottles of "Sunset Yellow" that look like the inside of a chainsmoker's lung.
"Welcome back PC, good to see you got over the nightmare of these Johnnie Foreigner machines from PooJoe and Binelli !"
Er, thanks, but have broadened my horizons and love my Cinelli and Peugeot still... maybe there's a reason they are plain black and white respectively for if nothing else British bikes are still the most fun because of their colours. How can you match Polychromatic Lavender or Flamboyant Electric Blue? Or Champagne? Or Silver and "mink"? But I ain't arguing the point around here..
Peter Kohler Washington DC USA
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