Peter wrote ;
> Ann... I'd be surprised if your Torino or any British lightweight of the
> period was clearcoated. I've never seen one. The process was paint, line
> and transfer (decal) and send it packing. None of the Raleighs made by
> Carlton were ever clearcoated and I am pretty sure none of the ones by at
> Ilkeston were either. Clearcoating makes plenty of sense to me but it
> just
> seems to be one of those "modern" innovations you either dread or desire.
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Not so ! In the pre- and post-war era. quite a few lightweight builders had the frames clear lacquered / varnished (whatever it was) over the colour coats. You can often tell just how original the paint scheme is on post-war frames, as more often than not, the clear top coat goes for all the world like wax and can be easily scraped off using a fingernail or three !
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also, Peter wrote ;
>
> Paint: British bikes had wonderful finishes; to me that's what sets them
> apart from all others. Colour. Quality. Taste. Even fun. But today's
> paints, whilst you can match them to the original colour, are by
> formulation, modern auto paints which means they have that wretched
> "glass" finish that's much glossier than paints of the classic era.
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With modern technology, matching them to the original colour is in theory relatively easy, what modern finishes appear to lack (IMHO) in comparison with those of old is the depth of colour and appearance. This is probably more as a result of the makeup of modern paints, and the application processes. No doubt someone will point me in the right direction and say otherwise, but I've yet to see a "modern" copy of the pre & immediate post-war flamboyant finishes so prevelant on British lightweights, where translucent colour coats were painted over nickle-plated frames. When you ask most British painters these days for "flamboyant" you get a fine metallic finish, absolutely nothing like flamboyant. Nice ? yes, Flamboyant, no.
Glossy finishes were around then, there's just too few of us old enough to make a subjective comparison. Personally I feel too many people search in vain for that refinish that makes a frame look like it's been painted 50 years ago, used for 50 years, but still remaining in mint condition in 2004. Arguably in 1956 a 1954 frame would look as new and as shiny as a 2004 frame will in 2006 (well not quite, but you get the picture)
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Bob Reid Stonehaven Scotland
http://www.flying-scot.co.uk (mapped)