lgrinnings
I live for the CABE
Howdy folks-
A month back, I picked up a 1936ish Pilot- badged Cleveland Welding Company bent tank bicycle with a “Z” serial number. It was complete save for the rear rack and paisley chain guard. It is overpainted with some of the most stubborn paint I’ve ever come across. I thought I might be able to save the original paint and decals, but no luck. The bike has the small paisley chainring, crescent stainless fenders (under the impossible orange paint), tank with switch and conduit, Delta Hornlight, Delta horn button, drop stand, and everything else (with the exception of rack and guard... I’m not looking forward to trying to find these). This is where a photo of the bike before I disassembled it would come in handy but I don’t have one.
Because I couldn’t save the original paint (black with white/cream head and darts and red pinstripes), I had decided to paint the bike in a reverse scheme (cream with black head and red pinstripes... kind of like that gorgeous Supreme). I just got thrown a curveball when I removed the paint from the tank because there was beautiful chrome underneath (see picture below). Now I don’t know what to do. Too much chrome may not look good with the cream paint. But it seems a shame to paint back over it. I think I am leaning towards painting over it, but I wanted to hear from you folks. The plan is to make this my rider and I have always wanted a cream bike.
Let me know what you think...
Do I keep the chrome?
Do I repaint?
Am I foolish for not going with a factory paint scheme?
Thanks in advance for your help!
-Lester
A month back, I picked up a 1936ish Pilot- badged Cleveland Welding Company bent tank bicycle with a “Z” serial number. It was complete save for the rear rack and paisley chain guard. It is overpainted with some of the most stubborn paint I’ve ever come across. I thought I might be able to save the original paint and decals, but no luck. The bike has the small paisley chainring, crescent stainless fenders (under the impossible orange paint), tank with switch and conduit, Delta Hornlight, Delta horn button, drop stand, and everything else (with the exception of rack and guard... I’m not looking forward to trying to find these). This is where a photo of the bike before I disassembled it would come in handy but I don’t have one.
Because I couldn’t save the original paint (black with white/cream head and darts and red pinstripes), I had decided to paint the bike in a reverse scheme (cream with black head and red pinstripes... kind of like that gorgeous Supreme). I just got thrown a curveball when I removed the paint from the tank because there was beautiful chrome underneath (see picture below). Now I don’t know what to do. Too much chrome may not look good with the cream paint. But it seems a shame to paint back over it. I think I am leaning towards painting over it, but I wanted to hear from you folks. The plan is to make this my rider and I have always wanted a cream bike.
Let me know what you think...
Do I keep the chrome?
Do I repaint?
Am I foolish for not going with a factory paint scheme?
Thanks in advance for your help!
-Lester
