Classic & Vintage - Decals - To Use or Not to Use???

I am lucky enough to have a mid seventies CCM "Tour du Canada" (http://www.mytenspeeds.com/My_TenSpeeds_1/Feature_Bicycles/Feature_Bicycles_Canada/CCM_TourDuCanada/CCM_Tour_du_Canada_1_Introduction.htm). For a couple of years, now, I have been trying to get around to making decals for the bicycle. Then, out of the blue, a fellow contacted me and asked if I would be interested in an original set of CCM "Tour du Canada" decals, purchased at the same time as he purchased his TdC back in the seventies.



Needless to say, I said "Yes, I would be interested" and, to make a long story, a bit shorter, the gentleman sent me the decal set, complete with CCM headbadge, free of charge. He was even kind enough to pay the postage. I was a bit stunned. And now my problem...

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Should I use, what might be the last set of these original decals on the planet, or preserve them? A failed attempt to apply and then that's that. Poof - gone forever! Once applied - poof - gone forever!

I cannot reproduce the decals, since I cannot print "white". I want to finish my bicycle (it is already painted) but I do not want to destroy the original decal set. I was thinking of sending the original set to the fellow in Australia to see if he can reproduce the set and without damaging my original decals.

Any ideas?

I was thinking of sending the original set to the fellow in Australia to see if he can reproduce the set and without damaging my original decals.

Any ideas?

This is probably what I would do. If you could get them replicated to put on the bike and keep these original that would be ideal.

....sending the original set to the fellow in Australia to see if he can reproduce the set and without damaging my original decals....

That is an excellent idea.

Hi Randy, you could send them to me, I can reproduce them faithfully to the original. Reproducing originals is my specialty.:thumb:

JRrestore
VeloCals.com

I wouldn't send them anywhere. What if they get lost in the post. Rare maybe...but a possibility.

I would photgraph them in detail. Measure them carefully and do up on a graphics program or give the info to someone who can.

Won't the originals eventually dry out anyway?

If you use them, hold on to them for a bit or send them to a decal reproduction place, I would still try to make a couple high resolution scans of them first for archival purposes at least. I think most decal reproducers should be able to use high resolution image scans to make some high quality reproductions.