Mick writes:
>I know we are supposed to speak the same language but how the hell do you
come up with the term pinstriping for lining. A pinstripe in Great Britain is
a very narrow stripe normally in cloth (pinstripe suit). The term we use is
lining. Lining could be on wheels, bicycle frames, railway locomotives etc.
Cyclo amongst others made a special tool to make the job easier it was funnily
enough called a lining tool or lining box.
How do you describe box and double box lining in the United States. Double
box pinstriping? And how about path lining or fan lined.
I think many of your American names for various things are sometimes a lot
more sensible than ours but I find this term ridiculous.
How can you have boxed pinstriping?
Mick;
I'm a bit behind on the list so this may have already been addressed, but here's my take on the use of these words in the USA (Caveat: like the rules for eight-ball, the use of these terms may vary by region so most likely many Americans will chose to differ with me). My first encounter with the term "pinstriping" was in the "hot rod" or custom car field (though of course their use predates hotrods by many decades, being seen on old fire engines, sewing machines, furniture, factory machinery, coach wheels, etc). When I first heard the term (as a child with a budding interest in cars) it made perfect sense as it was indeed a stripe but thin like a pin.
With bicycles, I have noticed that the terms pinstriping and lining seem to refer to two different things... the term lining is often used to describe a line around an existing edge or structural feature, as in outlining a lug, while pinstriping seems to refer to decorative lines, curves, or patterns done in a free area, for example fancy curls, loops and arabesques down the side of a frame tube or fork blade. So perhaps pinstriping might be defined as a stand-alone decoration, while lining reinforces or enhances an element that is part of the structure of the bike?
Bob Hovey Columbus, GA
By the way, someone asked what a ruling pen was that Chuck referred to in an earlier message. Here is a photo:
http://www.jerrysartarama.com/
As you can see, it is two flexible blades held a given distance apart by a thumbwheel. Ink (or paint) is placed between the blades (by dipping or preferably with a dropper) and is held in place by its own surface tension. I worked as a draftsman in high school and one of my tasks was copying and restoring old technical drawings from the late 1800's (on silk, not vellum!). These tools were really fun to use and I preferred them over the Rapidographs we were given (so perhaps even at 16 I was a budding retro-grouch).