Restoration, how far do you take it?

[Deleted member 24574]

Well I have put quite a few hours into my project now, I have dismanteled and cleaned and polished the various parts.

See below for a photo of the nice bits

These items show their history and so the question is where do you stop?

My intention is to leave it at that and use these when the frame is done, so the bike will look good but will still be true to its age ... or should I be polishing these components back to a almost new condition seeking to remove every blemish?

 

[ugo.santalucia]

C'mon... you just want to show your anniversary groupset, don't you?

 

[Deleted member 24574]

C'mon... you just want to show your anniversary groupset, don't you?

It is rather nice

But I am wondering how much further to take the restoration ... should I stop at this point and accept the blemishes as part of the character or go for that "just left the factory" look?

 

[jCymbal]

I would use those as they are.

 

[El Juli]

In the case of the photos you are showing I will leave them alone.

 

[Deleted member 24574]

In the case of the photos you are showing I will leave them alone.

Already plenty of cleaning & polishing to get to this point ... question is do I go to the next stage of mechanical polishing.

Also, anyone have any suggestion how to replace the black that previously sat in the bottom of the engravings that pick out the logos.

It's still all in place on the shifters but has all been worn off the chainset.

 

[Robbied196]

Try Ray Dobbins site, he has loads of useful information about polishing and re-enamelling any paintwork that's missing

http://www.raydobbins.com/polishing/

Black Humbrol will be the best bet either off Ebay or your local model shop.

 

[Robbied196]

If you want it like a mirror

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... ?p=1591675

Ask for Tel!

 

[Robbied196]

http://www.raydobbins.com/misc/paintfill_tips.htm

 

[ata]

I work in a museum of local history and signs of usuage are considered an integral part of an object (the objects are considered on their merit as carriers of (his)tory, not just as inherently valuable artefacts). For example, a WWII bomb, defused and recovered, was repainted by the bomb squad before being handed over to the museum. This was considered a loss of historical value (to add insult to injury the painting was incorrect). On the other hand, the story of this unwanted restoration has now been added to the object, so...

Personally I´d leave it cleaned an maintained as you have it now, especially if you intend to ride it.