In praise of patina
05-26-16, 12:04 PM
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In praise of patina
From the Merriam-Webster dictionary (my emphasis):
Patina
So let's see your vintage bikes and components with lovely patina from age or use.
Patina
- a usually green film formed naturally on copper and bronze by long exposure or artificially (as by acids) and often valued aesthetically for its color
- a surface appearance of something grown beautiful especially with age or use
- an appearance or aura that is derived from association, habit, or established character
- a superficial covering or exterior
So let's see your vintage bikes and components with lovely patina from age or use.
05-26-16, 12:14 PM
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05-26-16, 12:15 PM
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05-26-16, 12:16 PM
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Frejus
Here is the single object from my collection with the most beautiful patina. It's a Frejus track frame from the 1950's with original chrome and decals. After nearly 60 summers in Italy it has developed truly lovely mellow finish with tarnished chrome and faded decals.
05-26-16, 05:09 PM
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05-26-16, 05:17 PM
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Wait till you see my Mercian... Oh, wait. You said lovely.
lol
lol
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Last edited by horatio; 05-27-16 at 05:06 AM.
05-26-16, 05:57 PM
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This is one of those words that is so commonly mispronounced that people think you are mispronouncing it if you say it correctly. I'll just say nice aged surface.
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05-26-16, 06:05 PM
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All I have is patina. I don't know what this is but it's unique. My best guess from the headbadge is a Wnieler Hawk, which makes no sense. Some bike guy said he thought it was East German. I can tell it was Burgundy with gold panels and pinstripes. Crimped stays to boot, all with pins in the valleys. 
05-26-16, 08:37 PM
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I prefer the term "life sheen", which not only encompasses an acceptable amount of patina (aging and oxidation of the finish over time), but usage wear (think of that pen knife that you slip into you Levi's everyday you head out), and honest scars (like the nicks and scratches from actual usage). I think those things that exhibit this trinity are what I'm attracted to the most. Their beauty is skin deep, but truely honest; and your continued usage just adds to their history, not detracts from it, like some museum piece that you have to section off behind some red velvet chords of constant worry.
Last edited by uncle uncle; 05-26-16 at 09:53 PM.
05-26-16, 09:40 PM
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A little normal, honest wear is okay on a cared for bike but signs of abuse and neglect are not so good. For example, frame crush from kickstand clamps, that is not patina, that is abuse and even ignorance.
05-26-16, 11:09 PM
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All I have is patina. I don't know what this is but it's unique. My best guess from the headbadge is a Wnieler Hawk, which makes no sense. Some bike guy said he thought it was East German. I can tell it was Burgundy with gold panels and pinstripes. Crimped stays to boot, all with pins in the valleys.
05-27-16, 03:35 AM
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One of my rules with bikes is that they should age gracefully. I baby everything I own, but stuff happens, and I hate it when things look awful from honest wear. That's why I sold my '86 Schwinn Peloton. I just couldn't stand how bad the paint looked from just a few minor mishaps. Not cool.
05-27-16, 03:58 AM
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05-27-16, 04:09 AM
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One of my rules with bikes is that they should age gracefully. I baby everything I own, but stuff happens, and I hate it when things look awful from honest wear. That's why I sold my '86 Schwinn Peloton. I just couldn't stand how bad the paint looked from just a few minor mishaps. Not cool.
I felt the as you about my brand new Pashley; always cleaning, polishing and fretting over scratches, but not any more. It's still looked after very well but lost the concours look some time ago, and I enjoy it more now.
05-27-16, 04:11 AM
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All I have is patina. I don't know what this is but it's unique. My best guess from the headbadge is a Wnieler Hawk, which makes no sense. Some bike guy said he thought it was East German. I can tell it was Burgundy with gold panels and pinstripes. Crimped stays to boot, all with pins in the valleys.
05-27-16, 05:55 AM
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is aged raw steel patina?
1917 Loomis Lightweight......I think.
1917 Loomis Lightweight......I think.
05-27-16, 06:01 AM
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There's that point where patina shows use and love of the use... Then there's loving too much...
I think I prefer my bikes to look shiny and nice. Although I'm not one for comparing my stuff to new stuff, I don't like when my stuff just looks "old."
I think I prefer my bikes to look shiny and nice. Although I'm not one for comparing my stuff to new stuff, I don't like when my stuff just looks "old."
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05-27-16, 06:43 AM
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05-27-16, 08:18 AM
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This is the bike I have with the most patina. It matches my workstand too, at least the clamp has a lot of patina... can see the brazing on it since the paint is all gone. The frame is CCM Cleveland best I can tell from the late 1910s or early 20s. I didn't look at it carefully before buying but the crank is welded on and the front fork end is snapped off... also the stem is just a placeholder if I ever get around to working on it.
05-27-16, 08:54 AM
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This is the bike I have with the most patina. It matches my workstand too, at least the clamp has a lot of patina... can see the brazing on it since the paint is all gone. The frame is CCM Cleveland best I can tell from the late 1910s or early 20s. I didn't look at it carefully before buying but the crank is welded on and the front fork end is snapped off... also the stem is just a placeholder if I ever get around to working on it.
05-27-16, 09:03 AM
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I dunno...I personally don't equate "rust" with "patina". Patina is good, rust is not. Brass or bronze that has changed tint to a darker color = patina. Chrome with pits and rust poking through...that's just rust, not patina, IMO. Paint that has worn slightly and changed color with time = patina. Scale that has bubbled and weakened metal surfaces = rust.
Of course, YMMV.
Of course, YMMV.