This definitely comes under the "what will they think of next" thread catagory. Having said that, I have something to add.
I bought a 1898 Rambler from a fellow CABEer. It had undergone a prior restoration attempt which included a shot treatment based on the appearance of the unpainted surfaces. This was followed by an over-zealous layering of black runny paint.
Despite its relatively sterile appearance it was anything but. As many know, Rambler placed a manufacturing tag down inside the frame tubing. And despite what this frame had been through, I as any Rambler enthusiast would do, held out hope that a tag was still in the tubing. It was evident before long due to the partially assembled state of the frame that there was sadly no tag. But there was a... wad of something that surely needed to be removed before any assembly of the frame we're to occur. Why not do it now?
I extracted the wad from the down tube. It was not clear exactly what is was due to the mix of material and its degraded state. It was not until I saw the remnants of the tail that I determined it was a mouse that died in its hiding space, complete with bedding and food. It was like exposing a mummy's tomb. And I've disturbed it's provisions in the journey to the next life.
While there was no tag with this Rambler, I will never forget what WAS inside the tubing. Wish I took pictures, be who woulda thunk there'd be a thread like this made to show it in?
