I bought a 1974 Raleigh International frameset from Jason Cloutier at last year's Larz swap. It was cheap, mostly because of a large dent in the top tube. I plan to have the dent repaired by a framebuilder/painter on the list. This will require replacing at least some decals, and I may have the frame clearcoated to protect them.
I now have some question about the 531 decal on this frame. It has old style, simple fork decals like this:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/
But the frame decal is a "intermediate" one like this:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/
The fork decal that matches this frame decal is this more elaborate one (only in English):
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/
I'm suspicious now that he frame decal is not correct, particularly as I think 1974 is too early for the intermediate decal referring to "Reynolds Tube Co." Further, I suspect that the frame decal is a reproduction, as it is square, while I've been told by several list members that their original "Reynolds Tube Co." frame decals are wider than they are high.
Can anyone tell me whether a 1974 Raleigh should have the simpler earlier 531 decals, or the "intermediate" Reynolds Tube Co. decals? If some of the 531 decals on the frame are incorrect, I'd like to have correct ones applied when the frame is repaired.
Regards,
Jerry Moos
Houston, TX