Viscount,
The transfers are lovely, if a little faded. It's a tough choice with the paintwork. I would certainly try and salvage the decals. Mine had already been badly brushed painted before I got to it, with no sign of the original underneath. So I have had to repaint. This is a photo as I got it.

Your 47 Rudge is a beauty. I'd love to see more photos. I have a 38 ladies Raleigh I'm thinking of selling. It's been repainted and the rims are cracked but it's all there. Let me know if you want pics.
I went to the Beamish museum today, where there is a 1906 Rudge Whitworth singlespeed, that is something else.
No I'm not from Coventry, I just got into the Coventry thing through the Rudge, I've read up a lot since. And really, it produced some unrivaled machines in the very early days.
Why are the dates "worrying"?