I'f you're referring to '50's/'60s British paint, it was more than likely nitrocellulose lacquer, which chips easily and badly. Also, bikes of that period were devoid of clearcoat. The paint on my Mercian (new 9/00) is actually a lot better than the paint on my Heron, which has no clearcoat. At what time the British framebuilders went over to stove enamelling, I don't know; but it's a lot better than the old stuff.
Chris Beyer Bloomfield, NJ
Monkeyman wrote:
> >I'm with you on the 'barber pole" seat tube paint scheme that Mercian uses.
> >It is very distinctive and quite appealing, especially when used with the
> >orange bike w/ white stripes. My impression is that its almost a signature
> >element on Mercians alone. Has anyone seen this effect used extensively
> >anywhere else?
>
> I've actually seen it on two other English bikes. One was a 50's/60's
> Raleigh pathracer style bike and the other was a custom I don't remember
> the name of at this time. Between Barber Pole and Jack Taylor box-lining
> the Brits have the most stylish paint jobs. It's really too bad the paint
> itself sucks so bad, though no worse than the Italians.
>
> enjoy,
> Brandon"monkeyman"Ives
>
> Brandon and Mitzi's-- "Wurld uv Wunder"
> http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/
>
> Monkeyman's on going bicycle part garage sale
> http://www.uweb.ucsb.edu/
>
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