Yes. Or rather Maybe----Sometimes, kinda.
Although it pains me to disagree with the sagacious Mike Schmidt, I take a restoration to mean that there has been a substantial change to the original form of the bike. This could mean anything from repairing a squished seat binder ear or replacing a lost cable housing guide up to putting a new head tube,seat tube, and maybe new fork blades on a frame with a severe frontal crash history, but restoration means something has been changed. So where to put the dividing line? I suppose a respray is as good a line as any. If no structural changes have been made and the bike has original finish, then the owner who carefully cleans, polishes, removes rust and maybe touches up a few paint defects has refurbished, not restored. My understanding is that a restored bike has at least been resprayed, and the other class is "original", refurbished, cleaned, more hours and value put into it that the resprayed frame in some cases perhaps, but structurally original and with original finish.
And by the way, Jamie Swan and the other judges are saints, who deserve our devoted thanks for their efforts on our behalf. Having finally won a ribbon, I can say so without looking like I'm kissing up for the next contest. Thank you, Judges Emeriti, we appreciate your efforts.
Tom Adams, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
From: Mike Schmidt <mdschmidt56@verizon.net> Subject: Re: [CR] Ciclo Locomotiva - "sympathetic restoration"? To: "James Swan" <jswan@optonline.net> Cc: "classicrendezvous@bikelist.org" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Date: Sunday, July 19, 2009, 2:04 PM
NO
Mike Schmidt Millington, New Jersey Sent from my iPhone
On Jul 19, 2009, at 6:49 AM, James Swan <jswan@optonline.net> wrote:
>
> On Jul 18, 2009, at 11:57 PM, Marc Winnikoff wrote:
>
>> I am
>> going to embark on a sympathetic restoration, not a rebuild/repaint.
>
> Hi Marc,
>
> I apologize for hijacking your thread, but IMHO it's for a good cause. I like your use of the phrase "sympathetic restoration".
>
> I was asked to be a judge this year at the Brooklyn Bike Jumble and also at Le Cirque. In both cases I was vested with the responsibility to give awards for "Best Restored".
>
> I'd like to take a poll. Who thinks that the term "restored" means the bike has been repainted?
>
> No debate about the relative merits please: just answer the question. Thanks.
>
>
> Jamie Swan
> Northport, NY, USA
> http://www.jamieswan.net