The phenomenon of badge collecting has been around for a long time. Most claim that the badges were from irreparable bicycle. That argument is seldom viable today and probably not true at the time stated. The internet has brought about the the ability to find the most esoteric bit of history to add to a vintage bike. There are bikes, depending upon perceived value, that can be brought back from the dead with new tubing and a skilled hand at brazing. Any part can be found with patience. Replacement decals can be made. Better than new paint can be applied. Re-chroming or re-plating is an option. There are a group of collectors that have an incredible number of badges. I have seen one collection from a local Schwinn dealers in my area. Alessandro Natti (eBay seller in Italy) states that it is more common there to collect badges, not bicycles. We can only hope that the badges came from DOA BICYCLES and not just stripped from the ones that deserve restoration.
Greg Lone <gwlone@yahoo.ca> wrote: I can't help but agree with Nick about the waste-fullness of quick buck artists. Head badges are a obvious target of people with a mercenary interest in bicycles. It seems that every area of collecting have a group of similar people, I have often encountered people with extensive knowledge of vintage cars or motorcycles that have no interest in any aspect of collecting other than the profit they can make on their latest discovery. Hopefully the bike vandals will discover that a frame with badge is worth more than a badge alone and a mystery frame. I have bought badges in the past ,but only to install on frames which were acquired without . In fact I would imagine that the majority of higher priced badges sold are destined to return to an appropriate frame. I can't see someone shelling out $50.00 + for a trinket to sit in a display case or a cigar box. It seems to be a fact of life that most vintage cycles are sold in parts. Shipping costs plus the fact the parts almost always add up to a higher sales price than a complete cycle seem to guarantee this for the foreseeable future.
Greg Lone Langley B.C. Canada
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