USMCWR use of Victory bicycles in WW2

[kingsting]

I have Columbia and Schwinn wartime bikes with rough finished joints like that. Not sure about Columbia but Schwinn used lead to smooth out the joints back then. (I discovered this the hard way when I stripped a pre-war DX and made a mess out of the lead.) I'm sure the lead was deleted on the war bikes.

 

[srfndoc]

I plan on putting new tires, servicing it and preserving the paint. What method would you guys use for the paint? I was thinking steal wool and WD40.

I would try just rubbing compound to start (if anything) or just give it a bath and ride it.