w98seeng

I have a C-Record group I got off a bike I bought at an auction. The condition is very nice, but the cranks do have some scratches on them, as any 25 year old crankset would.

I can wet sand them down and polish them to a mirror and re-apply decals. Would this increase the value, ruin the value or leave it unchanged?

Here is what the crank looks like now.

Thanks,
Ian

Bianchigirll 

I personally do not care for parts that are polished like that. I think it removes too mush of the anodizing which is ment to protect the part.

C-rec sells pretty well even with a few belmishes. what model brakes do you have?

w98seeng

Delta, the pride and joy of the collection.

Ian

FastJake

Most would probably rather have them original, but if you can manage a professional job and get them looking perfect someone might want them for a show bike.

The Delta brakes look to be in great shape.

unterhausen

if your intent is to sell them, it works really well to polish parts to a high shine. Even parts that had that beautiful campagnolo hazy anodization. Disturbing, but that's the way it is.

Ex Pres 

Those aren't decals, but I guess you could replace them with decals.

T-Mar

IMO, polishing, and especially removing the logos, destroys the value.

wrk101

In the current market, polished brings more money. Long term, original will have the highest value IMHO, just like most collectibles. Just like higher end antique furniture: nicely refinished, value is X. With original worn finish, 10X. Shot myself in the foot on a lot of antique furniture I have.

w98seeng

Right, I believe they are painted on under a clear coat.

Ian

Standard Issue

Because without logos it's just a regular crankset that's no better than any other.

w98seeng

This can start another discussion, do people buy Campagnolo for the name or the performance?

I think that someone who is going to buy these components (vintage Campagnolo) will know what they are buying, that said, I think they will want the C-Record components for the quality and style more than the name.

Anyway, I'll find out in 4 1/2 days, the stuff is on eBay now.

https://www.ebay.ca/sch/w98seeng/m.ht...id=p4340.l2562

Ian

miamijim

Everything's relative. Polishing away logo's is bad but conditions everything. At a certain point reconditioning i.e. polishing is needed to maximize returns.

Drummerboy1975

How did you polish them without loosing the logos?

randyjawa 

This is, pretty much, how I see things also. Like T-Mar, I believe that absolutely original is best, but absolutely original does deteriorate with the passing of time, use and, certainly, abuse.

Personally, I hate anodized components and have few qualms about removing the coating and polishing away. However, it that component is laser etched, as are the Campys presented by the OP are, polishing becomes less of an option.

Anyway, that's how I see it and, for what it is worth, I am a sucker for "bling".

w98seeng

This I did not know. Good thing I didn't polish them and replace it with a decal.


Ian

miamijim

The logos are engraved on my set which happen to be 1st generation C Record, subsequent versions had etched or printed logos. Although my logos are engraved I can tell you tell only 1200 and 2000 grit sandpaper got near the logos and I only did that to achieve a consistent finish.

w98seeng

I was thinking the same thing, tape off the logos, but there are some scratches already though the logos so it would goofy.

Ian

miamijim

You can't tape off the logos on etched/printed cranks as the entire crank is clear anodized. If you do the taped off area will be much more dull than the polished area. With etched/painted cranks it's all or nothing, the cranks in question are $50-75 cranks in that condition.

w98seeng

I started to polish an XTR crankset because of all the shoe rub on it. About 3/4 of the way through it doesn't look too bad. I asked about the C-Record crankset because I thought the value would be higher than the XTR crank.

Ian

TugaDude

Don't know that the analogy is perfect, but as a former coin collector, I can attest that polishing collectible coins makes them much less valuable and desireable. Even coins in "perfect" condition are sometimes frowned upon when mixing them in with a collection of more "aesthetically challenged" coins.

I can see that happening on a bike. Wouldn't shiny, pristine components look a little out of place on a frame with nicely aged patina?

randyjawa 

And here-in lies one of the problems when one asks him/herself Should I Paint My Bike?

To polish or not to polish? That will always depend on the "as found" condition of the component. If it is all scuffed up to begin with, why not polish it? In the world of shiny vs scuffed up, there are a lot more buyers looking for shiny, in my opinion.

TimmyT 

Part of the allure of miamijim's crank and bb set are the photos. They are on backgrounds that bring out the silver and shine. They are also lit well.

The other photos might be of equivalent cranks, but the photos are dimly lit, partially out of focus, and on poor backgrounds.

The same part in the same condition will sell for a lot more with good pictures. You are better off setting up a good photo shoot than polishing, I think.