[CR]Better than new, WAS ]A Case for Historical Replicas

(Example: Bike Shops:R.E.W. Reynolds)

From: "Jim Cunningham" <CyclArtist@cox.net>
To: <LouDeeter@aol.com>, <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Tue, 20 Aug 2002 09:22:50 -0700
In-Reply-To: <3A161C8D.0E4AB32A.0269AA25@aol.com>
Subject: [CR]Better than new, WAS ]A Case for Historical Replicas

Lou & List,

Lou asks:"Have you ever 'cleaned up' or otherwise improved the lugwork or other workmanship on a frame that you are refinishing, such as filing out brazing material or cleaning up file marks? I wonder whether this is something that somehow changes the way a future generation might view that particular builder's expertise."

Yes, we do this by request. The general rule is we repair rust pits or damage first, then if there is time we go after the most conspicuous "birth defects" next.

On older classics with "bastard" file marks and other surface "character" we preserve this as was with thin paint and can even replicate the lesser gloss of many old finishes.

We do 5 different "categories" of finishes with increasing time allotted for frame prep on the better ones. On new frames and those with minimal damage we insure that pinholes in brazing and other details get attention to make the builder look his best.

By request we can go further, filing lugs or cleaning up brazing. If the builder did not put a clean edge on the lugs before brazing however, it is MUCH more difficult to do so after the frame is assembled.

I once had a customer send a Learco Guerra frameset. The bike had been poorly repainted and the fork had been rechromed. Unfortunately, the brake hole in the bridge was rotated about 15 degrees to the right, placing the brake in an unusable crooked position. The owner who was having the frame refinished for resale, proposed bending the brake bolt. I convinced him to let me fill the brake hole, re-drill it and re-chrome. The other thing the owner requested that I had an alternative for was this: The frame had nicely finished, crisp lug edges everywhere but on one side of the seat lug where for some reason, birth defect or due to rework, I don\u2019t know, the lug edge was thinned down to nothing. Perhaps it was over polished prior to an aborted chrome job. Anyway, the owner requested I take the other side of the seat lug down to match. I proposed that instead we build the missing lug edge up to match all the others, and so we did. The frame looked great and authentic when we completed it. Perhaps the builders of Learco Guerra's frames were hacks and they were all as bad as the one I saw, but I doubt it.

As to Lou's concern for the "future generation", this is one reason why we apply our logo decal to refinishes unless the client insists otherwise.

Jim Cunningham CyclArtist Vista "perfect riding weather 350 days a year" CA

-----Original Message----- From: classicrendezvous-admin@bikelist.org [mailto:classicrendezvous-admin@bikelist.org] On Behalf Of LouDeeter@aol.com Sent: Sunday, August 18, 2002 4:55 PM To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: Re: [CR]A Case for Historical Replicas

Brian and other 'refinishers'. Have you ever 'cleaned up' or otherwise improved the lugwork or other workmanship on a frame that you are refinishing, such as filing out brazing material or cleaning up file marks? I wonder whether this is something that somehow changes the way a future generation might view that particular builder's expertise. I would have a hard time not "fixing" something that needed fixing if I were in that business. Lou Deeter, Orlando FL