Badging up an unknown frame, etiquette

Jiveman60

Dirt Disciple
I have a very nice unknown frame that I'll never identify. 531 professional, 531 butted chrome forks added later with the frame number etched by hand. Long spearpoint heart cut out Prugnat lugs. Seat collar is threaded. Campagnolo drop outs f&r.
Mid 80s.
I'd like it decaled up.
I guess a shop that never actually built frames is okay?
 
Here are some.
 

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I've always considered that as long as you don't try to pass the frame off as an original you can get away with just about anything. We used to put our own decals on all sorts of frames, especially after a repair or respray. Back in the age of steel frames it was common for pro riders to have their frames built by somebody local to where they lived then have them sprayed and decaled by their team. Not just frames either - I saw Freddy Maertens wearing 'Colnago' shoes which certainly weren't Colnago as the badging was fixed on with the crudest stitching I've ever seen.
 
Alberto Delaca "Campari" made from Columbo comatic tubing

Or

Freddie Coulson "Silver streak" made from Reynods 852
 
Give your own shop a name, and use that on any bike that needs decals and you want to show off.

Here in Holland it was common practice for bike shops to want their own house brand. They'd buy frames elsewhere and put their own decals on them.

One of the most famous shops, Bontekoe in The Hague, did that with all sorts of frames for decades. I own a few:

Late forties / early fifties Locomotief - Bontekoe:

498e4df1-1350-41a2-8bee-54b51d764bc8.jpg


Sixties Gazelle - Bontekoe:

efad927b-e65f-4a32-96b9-dd421a66c3f7.jpg


Seventies Viner - Bontekoe:

59819be4-c678-4351-8220-056a0a939f3e.jpg


Seventies Alan - Bontekoe:

3ae3fb38-4b70-40ce-a99e-20c19ff09c5a.jpg


Early eighties Miki - Bontekoe:
3253551b-1cf7-4375-816c-f19c76d04f65.jpg

Late eighties / early nineties Stronglight Altec - Bontekoe:

80d7be11-80a9-4f63-a90d-ef7d6364d5eb.jpg
 

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