Originally Posted by
prettyshady
The shifters are
clamped on, and I think the paint has just faded from red to orange over the years.
I really want to get the original decal set back on and put a leather saddle on to match the bike. It would be best to repaint then put the decals on but I uully can't afford to repaint frames as I don't know a local frame painter.
My camera flash makes the rust look really bad but I am sure I can get it looking better over winter.
I was referencing the brake cable braze-on's, not the shifters (which luckily were left alone). If the decals are not clear coated and can be removed without leaving marks, then I would remove them and re-decal with the proper period graphics. I would carefully cut off the top-tube cable guides and file flat without damaging the paint around them. Then use the proper clamp-on style over the cut-off sections so you will not see it. Note; the correct early 60's clamp-on cable hold-downs are a bit wider then the typical 70's ones you see, so that may come in handy.