Re: [CR] restore or not restore?

(Example: Bike Shops)

Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2006 22:56:30 -0800 (PST)
From: Donald Gillies <gillies@cs.ubc.ca>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: Re: [CR] restore or not restore?

Oops, confession time. I just reviewed some pre-restoration pix.

I did restore a 1974 raleigh international that had most decals at 90% and paint integrity was fine, but the frame was discolored (browned, almost as if damaged by smoke in areas where nothing was clamped on), with

- top tube dent - some rust peppering on the forks - head lug chrome polished down to the nickel - shine impossible.

So the restoration was arguably unnecessary. The frame was purchased for $96 for the express purpose of restoration. Given that the frame was sold for less than $100 which is almost unheard of for these frames, it was by most accounts in fair condition. The goal was to change the color to chartreuse and substantially improve the lug polishing and chrome to "better than NOS" condition.

- Don Gillies
San Diego, CA, USA