1930s Frame Colour
 

Hi All

I am researching what original frame colours would have been available in the UK in the 1930s other than black. Any insights would be welcomed and if anyone can point to a catalogue with listings of colours that would be wonderful.

Thanks

Arb

1939 Browns catalog has many colors listed for enamel paints. The bikes listed also have many color choices.

The limited colours shown in the Brown Bros catalogue are on this colour card
The tins of paint are from page 93 and then on following pages.
The frame makers who built to order appeared to offer a choice of colours.
Eg Hobbs in 1938 offered a choice of enamels, metallic lustres or 'superior flamboyant' over a chrome base.
Dawes in 1938 also offered enamels, flamboyant or sheen finished. (p28)
or Hetchins in 1938 offered the range.

No doubt working your way through the V-CC library would provide more examples.

I would suspect that in the early 1930s the colour choices may be more limited, I will leave that for you to uncover.

As to what the colours looked like, you may be assisted by the colours offered by Mercian for refinishes.

If you were more specific about the frame maker, more specific examples might be found.

Thanks. Just what i wanted in terms of direction. Cheers

In addition to the standard enamels, there were quite a few flamboyant variants of paint colors. When I was researching my '46 Hobbs I was astonished to discover the sheer volume of colors and color combinations available on Brit bike frames.

Thanks everyone for thoughts on this. I am thinking British Racing Green or a colour pretty close to it but still noodling on this. Some of the 'flamboyent's' are way brighter than I originally realized were of the era. Fascinating!