In a message dated 1/31/2001 5:29:31 PM Eastern Standard Time, moos@penn.com writes:
<< I tend to believe Dale that the Titan is anodized. >>
What? Gasp! Could you do anything BUT believe me?
No, I GUARANTEE that the Teledynes are were anodized.. Honest!
Re: Peter's speculation about the colors of the various Ti alloys.. I have sold & messed with; many many Litespeeds under various names and in various finishes, Ibis, Merlin, Moots, Serotta, Titus, Clark Kent, the old Fuji Ti bikes and Speedwell (these last two "Commercially pure" or "CP" not 100% ti, there's a difference!) and Colnago (who knows what's in those!)
I am pretty sure that all these Ti alloys are pretty much the same color wise. 6/4 is the same as 3/2... is the same as CP. They ARE very different appearing when treated with different finish techniques though. Bead blasting in certain grits can yield a very dark appearing frame. (By the way, it is a trip to bead blast Ti, as it gives off "sparkles" that are scary at first!) The same alloy, when "bright" polished (using cotton buffing wheels and various polishing compounds) appears much more silvery and light. "Brushed" finish as Peter describes with abrasive pads (Scotchbrite) gives more light-dark options, all depending on coarseness of abrasive. Then anodizing over any of these finishes gives yet another range of new effects. All come out the same despite the Ti alloy content.
Jim Cunningham at CyclArt is very experienced at all these Ti finishes. Maybe he can chime in...
Dale Brown