Balloonatic
Riding my '39 Silver King 26X
Please forgive me, I'm way late to the party here... I was sorry to see this bike cleaned up, despite what a good job the seller did.
I wanted this bike for myself immediately when I saw the as found photos of it. Much of that allure was the idea of cleaning and fixing it up myself, or having the choice to leave it exactly as found. Had I discovered this thread before the seller did anything to it, my addition to the conversation would have been - if you're going to sell the bike, then leave it completely as found and let the new owner have the utter and abject joy of cleaning and tinkering with it himself if he (or she) so chooses. Once you clean it, or alter it from that as found, original state, you've taken away age and patina that cannot be put back, and robbed the new owner of the choice.
I would have paid much more for this bike before it was cleaned than after, probably double. 90% of that bike's value to me was the as found, undisturbed condition. I suspect that was the allure to many other collectors as well. Ultimately, it appears to have dawned on the seller himself that the fun is in the making it his own as he's decided to keep it.
It should be a cautionary tale to others who find original bikes like this; decide if you're going to sell or keep. If you're going to keep it, do whatever you want with it. But if you're going to sell and want to preserve the value to others, leave it completely alone, and as found. Condition is where all the value usually resides for me. I would have left this bike exactly as found, missing the top of the light even, and paid a bunch for the privilege.. I wish I had seen it when it was first posted, I would have... well woulda, coulda, shoulda.
I wanted this bike for myself immediately when I saw the as found photos of it. Much of that allure was the idea of cleaning and fixing it up myself, or having the choice to leave it exactly as found. Had I discovered this thread before the seller did anything to it, my addition to the conversation would have been - if you're going to sell the bike, then leave it completely as found and let the new owner have the utter and abject joy of cleaning and tinkering with it himself if he (or she) so chooses. Once you clean it, or alter it from that as found, original state, you've taken away age and patina that cannot be put back, and robbed the new owner of the choice.
I would have paid much more for this bike before it was cleaned than after, probably double. 90% of that bike's value to me was the as found, undisturbed condition. I suspect that was the allure to many other collectors as well. Ultimately, it appears to have dawned on the seller himself that the fun is in the making it his own as he's decided to keep it.
It should be a cautionary tale to others who find original bikes like this; decide if you're going to sell or keep. If you're going to keep it, do whatever you want with it. But if you're going to sell and want to preserve the value to others, leave it completely alone, and as found. Condition is where all the value usually resides for me. I would have left this bike exactly as found, missing the top of the light even, and paid a bunch for the privilege.. I wish I had seen it when it was first posted, I would have... well woulda, coulda, shoulda.