Well I suppose that it looks like something of a quantum leap to turn a string of contris about hand-painting/finishing a frame, as opposed to having it sprayed, into a discussion about Reyhand frames.
Mike Kone and I have been an old Reyhand bike that I own that appears possibly to be the oldest..probably built in 1935..Reyhand that has yet turned up. The transferring is different from that found on others, but the frame is painted in the very deep brown with orange lining, used by the builder Reiss.
A problem that I have is that there appears to be no number at all on it..so, today, I bit the bullet, and dismantled the bike completely, even to taking out the fork to see if the No is cunningly stamped on to the column, or under two-plate fork-crown...but it was all to no avail.
The bike was a "barn find" and as such the enamel has seen better days, although in large sections of the frame it is in v.good nick. On inspection of thre areas where the deep brown has worn off, and in patches where there are chips etc, the frame is still covered with a fairly thick coat of "red-lead" undercoat. There are hardly any areas where the bare metal has been exposed.
I have used red-lead as a brush-applied primer on all manner of bare metal..chassis of cars, gates etc..but never on a bike frame..so I am just beginning to wonder whether Reiss used to "coach-paint" his frames by hand.
any body got any views on this possibility? Do you know of any incidence of this type od hand-finishing in the 30, Jan ?
Norris Lockley..Settle UK