My grandfather was a painter and decorator from the 20s to the 50s, and could put a coat of paint on anything that was like glass. he used to paint walls, houses, bedsteads, coal skuttles, you name it, he could paint it. My father said he put it down to good brushes and good paint. I've done some painting in my time, and it's like the good doctor days, get it all on in one coat, with no drips or dust, and it dan look just dandy.

Of course, I'm not advocating that everyone should handpaint their bikes, but I have to say, I don;t think it's a no-no. You just have to have the skill, I guess.

More than anything, I suppose, I was wondering if anyone did handpaint thier old machines, especially the older ones, and I would still be interested in knowing when caommercial spraypainting came in. I have a feeling coachbuilders in the UK at any rate, were still using traditional techiniques into the 20s and 30s.