How original is my phantom?

[Wolfmac]

I gave my two cents back on the facebook post you had. But it is a good question to be had, how do we know some of the stuff isn’t rechromed? I too would like to know some of the tell tale signs. Of course in person, one would be able to tell by feel, but in pictures, difficult. Are we just coming to this conclusion due to the seat and nice chrome bits?

I mean look at those fender braces. Those don’t look like shiny cad reproduction to me. They look like someone painted them. Plus they’re rivet screws, not rivets. Which doesn’t mean much, but they’re a flatter general fastener type, and not the ones that Dan supplies.

These fenders are exactly what I do when I rechrome fenders.

Some reproduction fenders have a soft nickel ring around the holes. Not sure why this is. Attached some photos for reference. Though this could possibly be covered up by a rivet? I don’t own any reproduction fenders so maybe someone else can chime in here.

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This plating anomaly around the holes is referred to as either high voltage burning, or shadowing.

The holes were used as a point to fasten a conductive wire to the part and suspend it in the plating solutions throughout the multi step process.

If current load exceeds the capacity of the wire or fastener, voltage spikes, creating a localized hot spot in the workpiece and can produce discoloration like seen here.

The other explanation is shadowing whereby the suspension wire or fastener impedes the direct flow of current through its ionized path from positive electrode (anode) and negative electrode (cathode) and minimizes the rate metal is deposited in the space of the shadow.

Current flows the path of least resistance and material likely sees the fastener as the least resistive recipient of the charge effectively robbing new metal from being deposited in the desired space.

Apologies for nerding out but that’s the explanation and only well controlled plating processes and competent shops get it right.

 

[Freqman1]

Thanks Blake. I deleted the Facebook thread because I hate that friends and family can see my posts that have nothing to do with them in their feed. I didn’t feel like airing out an internet argument in public.

Appreciate the insights. People keep saying repop parts but I’d love to know why and what to look for. I’m not a newbie to old cars and bikes but not experienced in phantoms. The parts don’t look like cheap reproductions but I know they could be old reproductions. If people could let me know why they say repop, that would be cool.

I wish you would have asked this question Saturday when I had all of my Phantoms out. I have an Anniversary bike plus a '53 with repro fenders and the other eight are original. I'm sure someone can answer this shortly but next time I have them out I'll get good pics the next time this question comes up.

 

[Nickinator]

Looks to me like someone used 1995 Anniversary parts on an original frame and guard. Fork looks like a combo.
And tank decals are newer.

We've done that before, back when those Anniversary parts were dirt cheap.

We sure could use that seat tho

Darcie

 

[bobcycles]

Fenders, stem, crank, in addition to seat look repo.

Seat looks restored...

franken resto with some repop parts bike...

the world is littered with phantoms like this... hope you got a good dealio

 

[bobcycles]

I gave my two cents back on the facebook post you had. But it is a good question to be had, how do we know some of the stuff isn’t rechromed? I too would like to know some of the tell tale signs. Of course in person, one would be able to tell by feel, but in pictures, difficult. Are we just coming to this conclusion due to the seat and nice chrome bits?

I mean look at those fender braces. Those don’t look like shiny cad reproduction to me. They look like someone painted them. Plus they’re rivet screws, not rivets. Which doesn’t mean much, but they’re a flatter general fastener type, and not the ones that Dan supplies.

These fenders are exactly what I do when I rechrome fenders.

Some reproduction fenders have a soft nickel ring around the holes. Not sure why this is. Attached some photos for reference. Though this could possibly be covered up by a rivet? I don’t own any reproduction fenders so maybe someone else can chime in here.

View attachment 2441655

View attachment 2441656

the rolled edges are dead give away too when they are "thicker" than the original equipment...
these from the pix look repop

 

[JBone]

Not an expert by any means yet that appears many original parts been re-plated.

 

[Sal Paradise]

Cool bike!