I think this will be it for the cleanup of the Merkel. It took roughly 20 hours from start to finish... give or take a few, but this lady is back to her original glory as much as possible. I'll need to repair or replace the stem and rims - I wasn't able to get all the white paint off of the rims. If anyone has a technique for saving the enamel paint on wood rims while removing overspray I would happily accept the help. I tried a pressure washer on low and that helped, but I think I need more research on this topic before I put a plan into action.
Some process photos of frame cleanup and rim/hub cleanup. After cleaning up the rear hub I realized the shell was cracked, but intact. Honestly, it's just extra patina and I already rode it as it is... it had to be ridden.
It's original.
Patent No. for the Musselman Hub is: 86023 or 860.23
Miami front hub was next. I found some original orange Merkel paint on the axle of the front hub. Sealed and incased for the last 110 years. It's not a sales receipt, but it was cool to pull the axle and see the paint there.
Cleaned her up while trying to leave the paint there. All the bearings have been cleaned and repacked. All the threads of the bike have been cleaned and had the rust removed for easier maintenance in the future and to prevent any old metal seizing together. I want this old girl to survive another 100 years, it's time to plan for preservation.
When I first started this project I mentioned some oddities. Here's a couple I found along the way... the seat post is unlike another that I've encountered. Two different diameters and the front part is hollow. I'm including some frame details here too. The top tube and where it meets the seat tube and then the seat post bolt compartment and where that meets the seat tube. I actually couldn't get the seat post bolt removed, so I cleaned it while still in the bike and I lubed it as best I could. (you can see some of the grease at the bottom of the seat post)
The rear triangle was like the fork, pretty beat up and I wasn't certain how much original paint would be left and a couple of times I wanted to give up, but I had come this far. I am still surprised at how well it cleaned up and how many pinstripes I was able to save. I even uncovered the original manufacturer mark on the seat tube. It's pretty well turned to a wax like substance, but I was able to clean it up a bit and make out a few letters from Miami Cycle.
The details on these old machines is second to none.
I went over the headtube transfer and the downtube transfer one last time and tried to clean up some of the little parts. It was all patience here. Lots of q-tips, lots of tiny pieces of 0000 steel wool, and even an old credit card to help scrape the heavily painted areas.
