Chas- Your post reminds me of a story of mine. Back in the late 70's I had need for a Reynolds decal. I knew of the restrictions about getting one so I went to my LBS. He was a big Raleigh dealer and was able to give me one. Seems that on a visit to the Raleigh factory, some years before, the group of dealers passed by the paint and finishing area. Sitting on a work bench was a stack of Reynolds decals. He, and a bunch of others, helped his self to a few. The next year's dealer tour saw the same work bench clean of any decals! Sounds like Raleigh got the word.
> 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
>
>
Andrew R Stewart
Rochester, NY