Dear Charles, I am going to have to take issue with the following statement you have just made "British frames were resprayed regularly as a matter of course by careful owners..so, I have less trouble repainting a UK frame like this--particularly one with minimal graphics--and the graphics are available from Lloyd's. Also, I can have it repainted in the UK, and the job, by definition to my thinking, will be more authentic. If I go with Mercian, for instance, I'll get a very traditional sort of job. Not super humanly perfect, but a nice clean job at a reasonable price. Which is exactly what some UK owner would have expected 30 years ago. I sympathise with Doug Fattic's position. The temptation of an over-the-top job is always there. But, to me, such a job would be less rewarding than one that would be in the style of a typical UK paint-job of the period". Firstly you are correct in your assumption that a lot of British cyclists (not all) had their frames regularly re-enamelled, this is why everyone likes to find a great original finish frame. Have you ever given thought to how much metal is actually left in the tubes after all those shot blasts and repaints? There just might not be that much metal in the tubes of that classic Hetchins you are sitting astride! Secondly to imply that British re-enamelling of the period was just a nice clean job is highly inaccurate, it was near perfect from most of the reputable British bicycle enamellers especially Smiths (Albert) of Clerkenwell who did the majority of the London builders paint jobs right up until the 80's. Also no Brit 30 years ago and your frame is 50 years old would put up with a nice clean job they would have wanted a near perfect job, this is more in keeping with the British our character, second best means counts for nothing here, if you could have afforded it you wanted the best, goes equally for the period and today. If you want advice on a suitable British enameller get in contact with the VCC lads as this is a very contentious issue amongst the brethren at the moment. The enameller I use says if you do a great job no one says anything do a rough'en and they want to shout it from the f---ing roof tops! Incidentally he does all Longstaffs frames. If you must have painted get it done in America then at least you can easily bollock the painter if it is not up to standard. Me as they say in the "Print" LTFTA, roughly translated it means something on the lines of leave it alone. A bike in the shed which looks totally originally and care worn looks far better than tarted up bullshit jobs anytime. Strange other nationalities perceptions of our ideals character and standards. You take care and do what you want. From snow bound Scotland Mickey Butler
Thats all for now. Keep those wheels spinning, in your memories if not still on the road. Be lucky Mick Butler Huntingdon UK.