In the early 80s, Austro-Daimler (A-D) provided authentic Reynolds 531 decal sets - I should know because they were included with the replacement decal set for my A-D frame which I was having repainted. They weren't hard to get - I wrote a letter to A-D and they sent them to me free of charge!
Steve Whitting
"The Ciocc Cat"
Prairieville, Louisiana USA
Website at http://ciocc-cat.angelfire.com/
From: verktyg <verktyg@aol.com> Subject: Re: [CR] Not Reynolds 531 decal To: FujiFish1@aol.com, Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Date: Friday, January 1, 2010, 5:06 PM
Back in the 70s replacement Reynolds 531 transfers/decals were just about impossible to obtain in the US. One set of decals came with each tube set and if you messed one up which happened easily with the water slide transfers, well that was tough!
I wrote them several times in the mid to late 70s trying to get replacement decals for those damaged on customer's bikes and I don't remember ever getting a reply.
I guess that Reynolds was paranoid about people making bogus Reynolds framed bikes or putting their decals on lesser quality bikes.
I'd heard that Reynolds legal department came down hard on several people who made replacement decals including the "Not Made of Reynolds" versions.
I'd also heard from several sources that in the 70s Reynolds used as many as 6-7 different suppliers in the UK for their decals/transfers.
Columbus decals were just as hard to get.
Later both Reynolds and Columbus "Respray" decals became available to bike painters and frame builders.
Chas. Colerich Oakland, CA USA
FujiFish1@aol.com wrote:
> A lower level Italvega frame set popped up on Ebay with a funny little seat tube decal that says "GUARANTEED NOT BUILT WITH REYNOLDS 531..."
> Here's a direct look at the pic showing the decal: http://got.net/
> I assume this is a joke decal ... and have never seen it discussed here before.
> Ciao, and Happy New Year!
> Mark Agree
> Southfield MI USA