Re: [CR] Clear Coating to preserve Patina

(Example: Framebuilders:Alberto Masi)

Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2004 18:50:42 -0600
Subject: Re: [CR] Clear Coating to preserve Patina
From: "Todd Kuzma" <tullio@theramp.net>
To: <Suzy.Jackson@csiro.au>, <RDF1249@aol.com>, <chriseye@comcast.net>, <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
In-Reply-To: <2B599A9926362947A065B296D4F4573C5121DE@EXNSW2-SYD.nsw.csiro.au>


on 1/21/04 6:21 PM, Suzy.Jackson@csiro.au at Suzy.Jackson@csiro.au wrote:
> You've left me in a real quandary. Because of the rarity of my Malvern
> Star, I'm afraid to re-paint it, as by doing so I may be effectively
> vandalising it. On the other hand, it's extensively rusted, and I'm
> concerned that despite my best efforts to preserve the bike as it is, it
> will continue to deteriorate.

We have a friend of the family who is a mechanic and specializes in old Corvettes. Now, these Corvette guys can get pretty particular, including our friend. However, he doesn't believe in keeping things "original" above everything else.

He argues with my neighbor, who owns a very nice '64 Corvette. There are several things worn out on the car, and the chassis has some rust. However, the car has low mileage, and he doesn't want to change anything. My friend, the mechanic, tells him that the car didn't come from the factory with rust! It's not original anymore - it's rusty! It didn't come from the factory with worn parts. It's not original - it's broke!

I agree that it is worth trying to preserve how something was, but there comes a time where you go past preserving a piece of art and you are now holding onto a rusty piece of junk. It's up to you to determine where that point is.

Todd Kuzma
Heron Bicycles
Tullio's Big Dog Cyclery
LaSalle, IL
http://www.heronbicycles.com/
http://www.tullios.com/