If this bike had a chipped and scratched original finish, maybe with a little bit of rust, we would say that the wear (or damage) reflects it's history and call it patina. Well, when quality steel bikes were the state of the art it was common for owners to preserve their bikes by repainting and updating by adding cable guides, shifter bosses, bottle bosses, pump pegs etc. I know I did it. I believe these changes also reflect the history of the bike but rather than consider this to be equivalent to patina we simply dismiss them as incorrect. I say leave them as is especially for a bike in as nice a condition as this one. The advantages are that you will still have a sweet riding classic bike and you won't have to worry about damaging an irreplaceable original finish.
The only reservation I have about this bike is that it appears a bit schizophrenic. Combining the braze ons with original or "correct" components seems off. Given the vintage off this bike it would have been a candidate for refinishing by the early 80's and I think an owner would have also updated the components, most likely to Super Record. I'd be tempted to build it up with SR as a rider and store the original components until the next repaint is needed.
And yes I would bid on it if it were my size. A twin plate would be a nice companion to my '75.
Norm Lafleur
Ashfield, Ma.
> Bruce Thomson wrote:
>
> Is this bike right for anyone? With the poor paint job, the extra
> braze-ons,
> and todays cost of restoration would it not be just better to keep the
> fork and
> throw the rest of the bike away?? I mean who would bid on it? BT
>
>
> This is a very early number Carlsbad bike that deserves proper
> restoration. I will not be surprised if the bike goes for a fair bit of
> money.
>
> To the prospective buyer; when you "throw the rest of the bike away" could
> you save those Martanos for me?
>
> Jeff Pyzyk
> Milwaukee, WI