Originally Posted by
Fahrenheit531
Here's where I fall into disagreement with the uber-purists.
If someone wants to take an old PX-10 and do a full restoration, as defined by the OP, that's their call and I see absolutely nothing wrong with it. The vast majority of the bikes we're talking about are not, nor will they ever be, museum pieces, and the world will not be diminished one little bit by fresh and oh-so-shiny paint on an uncommon bicycle. In fact, in the hands of a person who's into that sort of thing, the bike may well see vastly more usage after it has been restored (or, if you prefer, destroyed) and the owner will get far more pleasure from it than from the unaltered original. Sounds like win-win. We are not talking about Picasso's Guernica here.
Personally, I prefer a more original bike. But if I really don't like the decals I have no problem with making some "adjustments." Component swaps? Absolutely. Cut the top 1cm off a steerer tube to eliminate the need for a bunch of spacers? Yep. These are bicycles. Simple, elegant machines meant for transportation, recreation, competition, and/or fun. I own my bikes; they do not own me.
I am by no means an ultra-purist - if something comes to me as a bare frame I tend to have some fun with componentry, as I'm currently doing with my '74 PX10. And let's not forget that I have little problem refinishing when doing so no longer impacts non-monetary aspects of value. But I do believe that the historical record belongs to every human being who will ever exist and that, collectively, those people are more important than I am. Conscience keeps me from feeling like my desires are more important than all of those people, and a respect for history keeps me from altering or parting-out something that might be more important to someone else than money and/or a transient personal preference is to me.
And unless you're going to be buried with something, you're only taking care of it for the next guy. You don't own it any more than the guy before you does, and I urge some basic consideration for the next guy.