Originally Posted by
daf1009
Aaron...what a bike...the patina is incredible...I am sure you will clean it up "appropriately"...getting some grime off of it is about the extent would be my guess! Good luck on keeping the wheels as original as possible...
The extra little signed portion is also very cool..
Wow...what a find!
Now...as the Mission Impossible movies like to say..."if you accept this challenge..." Wouldn't it be great if you could get the "whole story" of the bike? Find out who "McCreary" was? Maybe Pete Matthews built wheels for him (her?) and they asked for a special frame? Knowing that story would definitely move this bike to the "top of the heap" as far as looks, patina, worldliness...and story...even if McCreary proves to be a nobody in the cycling world!
Wow...congrats dude!
I'll keep the forum posted with what I learn! The guy I'm interfacing with, Lee Matthews, seemed quite interested and very friendly. This is definitely a case where less is more as far as the restoration. I VERY gently went over it with a wash cloth and wax - I think any more than that might destroy what remains of the decals.
It'll definitely be getting a caradice! Maybe a handlebar bag as well.
To be honest about it, I was initially interested in it as a parts donor for my Mooney (this is pretty much exactly what I wanted to do with that bike)...but when i saw it, that went out the window.