[CR] pinstriping

(Example: Events:Eroica)

Date: Thu, 3 Sep 2009 11:27:59 -0700
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
From: "Jan Heine" <heine94@earthlink.net>
Subject: [CR] pinstriping


>Jack Taylor did use the striping tool; which may explain why they
>are somewhat crude in comparison to a really careful hand pinstripe
>job. Remember the relative situation. The Taylor bikes are handmade
>production frames for the most part. Our "super pinstriper" takes
>about 3 hours to do the job and generally costs around $200 to $300.

In the interview in the Summer 09 Bicycle Quarterly, Jack Taylor explained how he had a signwriter do the striping, until that man died. Then he got the tool. It should be easy to see whether the tool or a brush was used.

3 hours sounds about right. The Rene Herse tandem that is shown in "The Competition Bicycle" took longer than that, but that included signatures and a lot more tubes.

In the old days, the striping was done quicker than that - you can see. The problem today is finding somebody skilled and fast, not unskilled and meticulous. In the end, the restored bikes will end up looking like Herse showbikes, rather than like his normal production machines...

Jan Heine
Editor
Bicycle Quarterly
140 Lakeside Ave #C
Seattle WA 98122
http://www.vintagebicyclepress.com