Re: [CR]Nickel plating

(Example: Events:Cirque du Cyclisme:2002)

From: "Joe King" <joeking@fastmail.fm>
To: "Philip Easton" <sybaspex@tcsn.net>
References: <6.1.2.0.2.20060929180917.01fbb068@inmail.tcsn.net>
Subject: Re: [CR]Nickel plating
In-Reply-To: <6.1.2.0.2.20060929180917.01fbb068@inmail.tcsn.net>
Date: Sat, 30 Sep 2006 10:04:45 +0100
cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org

Hello Phil, Don't know if this is of any help but after being around the British cycling scene for more years than I care to remember here are just two observations which might be of help. When flamboyant enamels were first used here in the late 20's and early 1930's they always nickel plated the frame prior to applying the flamboyant paint. You can check this by examining old makers catalogues of the period. I believe the market leaders or trend setters in flam finishes were GA and Selbach. The nickel with the flam paint over it gave a beautiful finish unfortunately the paint use to flake off quite easily in the early days. Could it be possible that these were originally in flam paint? Frames were supplied in nickel finish right from the early days (Victorian) and of course as we all know nickel plating was the forerunner of chromium plating and if a bike has nickel plated parts it is a good indicator that the bikes date is pre 1935 approx. I purchased in the mid 60's a rather dilapidated Buckley tricycle from a crack 1930's racing cyclist. The trike was thoroughly serviced by me and I toshed some black paint over the existing black just to make it look a little bit tidy. The Buckley was a superb trike but I only used it for Winter riding. The trike was then sold to an SVCC member in the Welwyn/Stevenage area. He restored this trike and after stripping off the many layers of old black paint he found the original flamboyant paint finish, this was bronze on polished nickel with half chromium plated front forks and chromium plated Abingdon. He even found the original owners name on the top tube. The trike was used by him for many years at SVCC rides and he raced it in fun time trials like Boxing Day and Holly 10's etc. If you need any scans of old catalogues which detail the nickel plating and flamboyant paint finishes I can arrange to have some sent to you. Please contact me off list. Joe. PS. Looked quickly on the CR web-site for GA and there is nothing on them seems strange for such a prolific English maker. They had five shops and their stuff was everywhere, bigger than Grubb's or Saxon in their heyday. Croeso Cymru Joe King Nr. Maenaddwyn Ynys Mon Wales