Steve Whitlatch 

Well why is your opinion contradictory to this article then? You tell me the bike is Anerley in your opinion? You tell me the serial number puts it to the first half of the 70`s no later than 1975? Then I read this article, that I now find out you contributed to, that says they moved to Anerley in 1976? So what changed since you helped write this article?
It really does not matter to me where it was built, i love the bike. I just was hoping to know the year and if the decals are correct for my own knowledge? I never want to misrepresent the bike to anyone, is all.

Thank you.

Steve Whitlatch 

Do you know if the Campagnolo Rally RD that came with the bike had the re enforced hanger or not. The Rally was introduced in 74 and modified in 75. If really original this could help date the frame? Did any of the parts have date codes?

Chombi1 

Agree about the questions on the paint being original....
If it is original, the bike had not been taken out for any sort of seasonal rides of any kind through the years. Red paint is notorious for fading from any kind of UV exposure. So for a 40+ year old paint job to still look brand new after all these years is amazing, especially as paints back then most likely didn't employ any sort of UV inhibitors....unless this bike might have been a darker red color originally?

crank_addict

With three forum members here, myself included, having set eyes and hands on this very bike it appears very much original. What others here may or may not see are superficial flaws in its handling through its life. There are a few chips and decal markings. Again, so minor and overall an exceptionally preserved frameset.

I'm going to take a guess from seeing the characteristic chip of lacquer, specific to acrylic lacquer but don't recall seeing crackling, typical of that formula. Also, this bike has a symbolic , burnish looking water slide decal just below 'Roberts' on the down tube. I don't know the significance of it but is seen on other Roberts of the era.

As for its preserved condition, I don't dispute. The insides were consistent of aged but not chemically cleaned, appeared to have remained in a dry state. No condensation variance / cycles though the bb shell had the only indication of such. That likely because it has no weep holes.

I've seen MANY original paint on motor vehicles going back 80 years of their age having exceptional pigment- still glowing.

Steve Whitlatch 

I have brought dead paint back to life with rubbing compound , polish and wax. Yes it is in remarkable shape. Could very well be an excellent repaint. I look at all of Johns mint classics in wonder as they all look like they came out of the factory. I just really want to know if the decals are correct. According to that article, they did not change the head badge to Anerley until the actually moved to Anerley in 1976. So I really want to know if my decals are correct? I can live with a perfect repaint.

Steve Whitlatch 

Very strange indeed. I guess it is too perfect looking? I see so many bikes from this era that look mint and beautiful. Garage queens that after cleaning look mint as can be. This is the first time I have ever seen a bike called out as a repaint? Oh well. i will not lose my joy. The bike is perfect to me.

camelopardalis

Not sure how to answer your questions. I don't know where to look for date codes. Attached are three closeup pictures of the RD which currently resides in a Masi GC.

Steve Whitlatch 

That is the original. The reinforceed version looks like this one. So if original to that bike, that puts us into 1974.

santa fe 2926 

jjhabbs 

My opinion, as for paint. I probably have 20 bicycles with original paint that are 30 to 40 years old that look terrific. Working in shops for many years I have discovered there are many people with lots of money who buy nice bicycles who ride them twice, wipe them with a diaper, hang them in their basement and never ride them again. My collection is full of them. They're all over the place. You just have to find them.

JJ

Steve Whitlatch 

Thank you. 20.86 pounds on my electronic luggage scale as she sits.

RobbieTunes

You should re-use those diapers. It's a green thing.

Glad you're around to rescue them from oblivion, but I remind you to put the key back under the mat.
I went by a few days ago and could not get in.

RobbieTunes

OK OK. I'll admit it.

I built it last summer and aged it in my hyperbaric chamber. I had to give Grune-O six whiskey sours just to get the parts away from him. Then, I had to steal his car as a diversion because he kept coming back for more. Then he told me it was being sent to Whiplash, and I had to steal the bars from HIM, age them, clean them, and send them back to him as part of a scheme to show him he only paid once. I'm sort of like the government that way.

So, issue resolved. Let's get back to admiring this beautiful bike and finding ways to get more. More, more, more.

Steve Whitlatch 

I knew it!

jjhabbs 

Go to the one minute mark, This is where I got the diaper line....

steelbikeguy

boy, I forgot all about the details about the Ferrari restoration. Why does it bring to mind some bike projects??


Steve in Peoria (planning on abusing one of my bikes out on the snowy/sloppy streets today)

Steve Whitlatch 

A guy from a Facebook Group has came across a bike that looks to be the same model as mine. It even has a Rally RD like what was originally on my frame. Only two cable clips as well.