maybe the seller thought he was telling the truth. i saw the auction and didn't assume the seller was con-ing anyone. lotsa folks are using ebay as a resource - just like we do - and some are just sellers, not heavy-duty vintage buffs. if i needed these stickers, i'd have no issues bidding, regardless of their history. besides - if we agree that decal art and technology has improved since the 70s, who loses? e-RICHIE...........And The Gang!!!! aka Richard M Sachs chester, ct
BobHoveyGa@aol.com writes:
<< I could have sworn that the Reynolds decals that came on my '72 Peugeot PX-10 were water slide... anybody know? They sure were fragile, I know that.>>
It's almost impossible to tell which type transfer/decal you have once it's applied to the bike. If yours cracked and split and the glue was slimey, it's likely it was the earlier dry fix (rub on) style. I think varnish-apply versions slowly disappeared in the 1960s..
And richardsachs@juno.com writes:
<< why does it matter if these are water slide or pressure sensitive? and so what if they're not from birmingham. it's such a small decal. and they're not that ubiquitous in any event. >>
What matters is that sellers should be truthful and represent stuff, anything, accurately.
Actually, the original Reynolds 531 decals are pretty crappy; after a while the glue turns to slime, and they really get weird when clear coated. They also tend to break up and start sliding around. But they are original, genuine, the real-thing. There are no more being made, they are going to become rare. Someone may want that. And they deserve not to be lied to.
These ubiquitous replicas are readily being made much more accurately than the oldies. The registration of the colors is close to perfect. They take clear coat beautifully. The colors are bright and clear. They are also unmistakably replicas and do not look or last like genuine decals. Someone may want that ... or not.
There are other 531 replicas out there that are not so hot. Made by some sort of a computer process rather than screen printing. They look phony (or less original!) because the pigments are slightly waxy looking, the shape and size of the graphic elements not-quite right, gold bands a little too thick, proportions a touch off. I can spot them a mile away. Can you? (rhetorical question)
So, all you CR members, which one of the above did you buy, the real thing, the good replica or the bad replica....after having read, "They are the original thin water transfer decals." ?
Dale Brown
Greensboro, NC