Following on the subject in hand and all the varied ideas reminded
me of the days when cloth tape was the main source of covering
of one's handlebars, Bearing in mind the majority of bars were steel
chrome especially for the track. As many of the riders rode the
same machine for all purposes this type of bar were common.
Also the riders of the day generally only taped from the bar ends
up to underside of the brake lever leaving the rest of the free
of covering. Not all used the manufacturers special tape either
as cotton products was in short supply after WW2.,their main
source came from the carpet suppliers tape used to bind and
finish of coconut/rag matting . It came in various colours and
width which outlasted any the so called "super" tapes of the
period.
Doug Smith
North Dorset
UK