Illaveago
Guru
- Location
- Chippenham,Wiltshire.
It seems the most likely outcome . The frame had Rotrax transfers on it and that is what I assumed it was , but after posting on another thread the conclusion now seems to be a Falcon Professional.
Whilst trying to Identify the frame I set about trying to remove some of the paint using cellulose thinners on a rag . I started in the places where I was likely to come across any existing transfers, head tube ,seat tube and eventually down tube . I discovered that underneath the bright blue colour was a metallic black. It now turns out that there was also a layer of grey primer in between . Using a thinners soaked rag tended to make everything blend into a dark purple colour .
I discovered that in the places where I tested that underneath the black was white , or at the time I thought was pink . It turns out that the metallic black contains a lot of red and has tinted the white over time . Further removal of the paint revealed the main colour of the frame to be a light greenish blue metallic.
I continued to remove paint in the areas selected to find out the extent of the white areas. A trial section of the crossbar just revealed the original light greenish blue metallic paint . I say this was the original paint as it wasn't affected by the thinners in the same way . I washed some paint off the front forks and it revealed the same metallic colour , so it showed that they were the original forks .
I have continued to wash the paintwork back to the original but have now changed the method to using a toothbrush and thinners . It has taken on a method a bit like an archaeological dig by slowly removing layers of paint . I have found this method to be a lot better and the paint can be wiped away with a rag once softened. I have discovered that the paint was originally a light blue metallic, there is a coating of clear lacquer which has yellowed with age and is making the paint look green. I have also discovered that the lugs and little windows cut out of them were finely lined with gold paint .
One strange thing that I noticed when trying to fit the wheels was the narrowness of the front forks . My wheels wouldn't fit ! The gap was 3.25 inches, my wheels are 3.75. I have managed to ease them out to just over 3.5 now by using a car jack . The forks are very springy.
I have now removed most of the later paintwork and the frame is looking a bit like how it would have left the factory, apart from where someone has rubbed the paintwork down .
I will post some more pictures soon .
Whilst trying to Identify the frame I set about trying to remove some of the paint using cellulose thinners on a rag . I started in the places where I was likely to come across any existing transfers, head tube ,seat tube and eventually down tube . I discovered that underneath the bright blue colour was a metallic black. It now turns out that there was also a layer of grey primer in between . Using a thinners soaked rag tended to make everything blend into a dark purple colour .
I discovered that in the places where I tested that underneath the black was white , or at the time I thought was pink . It turns out that the metallic black contains a lot of red and has tinted the white over time . Further removal of the paint revealed the main colour of the frame to be a light greenish blue metallic.
I continued to remove paint in the areas selected to find out the extent of the white areas. A trial section of the crossbar just revealed the original light greenish blue metallic paint . I say this was the original paint as it wasn't affected by the thinners in the same way . I washed some paint off the front forks and it revealed the same metallic colour , so it showed that they were the original forks .
I have continued to wash the paintwork back to the original but have now changed the method to using a toothbrush and thinners . It has taken on a method a bit like an archaeological dig by slowly removing layers of paint . I have found this method to be a lot better and the paint can be wiped away with a rag once softened. I have discovered that the paint was originally a light blue metallic, there is a coating of clear lacquer which has yellowed with age and is making the paint look green. I have also discovered that the lugs and little windows cut out of them were finely lined with gold paint .
One strange thing that I noticed when trying to fit the wheels was the narrowness of the front forks . My wheels wouldn't fit ! The gap was 3.25 inches, my wheels are 3.75. I have managed to ease them out to just over 3.5 now by using a car jack . The forks are very springy.
I have now removed most of the later paintwork and the frame is looking a bit like how it would have left the factory, apart from where someone has rubbed the paintwork down .
I will post some more pictures soon .
