Decals or No Decals. Help Me Make a Decision
#1
Gone World Hepster
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Decals or No Decals. Help Me Make a Decision
I don't want to bother with a formal poll, but thought I'd just test the waters of opinion from fellow mem bers on a decision that is a bit too elusive for me to grasp at the moment. Several months ago I acquired an 85 Paramount frame and fork from a fellow member that needed some attention due to some rust on the top tube cable guides that was working it's way under the paint and beginning to involve more of the same tube. I saved my pennies and shipped it off to Matt Assenmacher for cancer treatment and the addition of a front derailleur braze-on tab and it's been primed and sometime this week will get the finish paint.
I'm going with something similar to the original Schwinn 'Fireball Red' but with a bit of metallic just to pimp it a little bit. My problem is that I can't decide whether to restore the decals or to leave it plain and I really should make the decision in the next few days. I'd be delighted to hear opinions from anyone who wants to weigh in on the decal issue. So, keep it clean or show the heritage? Here's a picture of the before:
I'm going with something similar to the original Schwinn 'Fireball Red' but with a bit of metallic just to pimp it a little bit. My problem is that I can't decide whether to restore the decals or to leave it plain and I really should make the decision in the next few days. I'd be delighted to hear opinions from anyone who wants to weigh in on the decal issue. So, keep it clean or show the heritage? Here's a picture of the before:
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When that was new I thought that the design was nice and actually it still looks good without seeming too dated. That being said I personally would go with a vintage Paramount set from the 60's or earlier.
vjp
vjp
#4
No one cares
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#5
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Decals
#6
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Decals but not THOSE decals. As others have said, pick a different year with better graphics. Heck even have some made with your own name or something. I'm thinking of doing that if I ever get around to refurbing my Panasonic.
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1959 Bottecchia Milano-Sanremo(frame), 1966 Bottecchia Professional (frame), 1971 Bottecchia Professional (frame),
1973 Bottecchia Gran Turismo, 1974 Bottecchia Special, 1977 Bottecchia Special (frame),
1974 Peugeot UO-8, 1988 Panasonic PT-3500, 2002 Bianchi Veloce, 2004 Bianchi Pista
1959 Bottecchia Milano-Sanremo(frame), 1966 Bottecchia Professional (frame), 1971 Bottecchia Professional (frame),
1973 Bottecchia Gran Turismo, 1974 Bottecchia Special, 1977 Bottecchia Special (frame),
1974 Peugeot UO-8, 1988 Panasonic PT-3500, 2002 Bianchi Veloce, 2004 Bianchi Pista
#7
Disraeli Gears
Well, using non-authentic decals pretty much shoots resale based on authenticity out of the water. Before doing that, think hard about what you want to achieve. I have no problem with "doing it your way," but I would do that with the understanding that the "collectible" value will suffer.
#8
Gone World Hepster
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Here's what Matt Assenmacher had to say when I asked him the same question:
I think the Paramount decals are a nice touch. I think a bike without decals looks unfinished and and incomplete. Almost like someone is trying to hide something.
#9
Freewheel Medic
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I'd lean towards the original decals, but if you want to go just a shade askew, consider this option:
Sometime early during 1985, the Rainbow decals were replaced with the ones on your bike. There seems to be very few of those Paramounts left on the street. They were only used in '83, '84, and I believe briefly in '85 before the switch. During '83-'84 not many Paramounts were made, with only the '81-'82, and pre WW2 ones being rarer.
Just my 2 cents worth.
Sometime early during 1985, the Rainbow decals were replaced with the ones on your bike. There seems to be very few of those Paramounts left on the street. They were only used in '83, '84, and I believe briefly in '85 before the switch. During '83-'84 not many Paramounts were made, with only the '81-'82, and pre WW2 ones being rarer.
Just my 2 cents worth.
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#11
feros ferio
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When I had Capo #1 repainted, I did not get the elaborate and expensive seat tube and top tube decals reproduced, but I did go with a fairly decent reproduction of the big block CAPO on each side of the downtube. I just wish I had been a little fussier in specifying a more correct-looking type font, but the end result is quite good, and only a few of our more perfectionistic BF C&V members have criticized it.
Rob Bowman spent quite a bit more than I did and ended up with a full set of decals. You can decide which you prefer on:
https://classicrendezvous.com/Austria/Capo.htm, which also has a picture of a rare single-owner all-original Modell Campagnolo from late 1960 or early 1961.
Rob Bowman spent quite a bit more than I did and ended up with a full set of decals. You can decide which you prefer on:
https://classicrendezvous.com/Austria/Capo.htm, which also has a picture of a rare single-owner all-original Modell Campagnolo from late 1960 or early 1961.
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Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
Last edited by John E; 07-25-09 at 05:10 PM.
#12
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Well, using non-authentic decals pretty much shoots resale based on authenticity out of the water. Before doing that, think hard about what you want to achieve. I have no problem with "doing it your way," but I would do that with the understanding that the "collectible" value will suffer.
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1959 Bottecchia Milano-Sanremo(frame), 1966 Bottecchia Professional (frame), 1971 Bottecchia Professional (frame),
1973 Bottecchia Gran Turismo, 1974 Bottecchia Special, 1977 Bottecchia Special (frame),
1974 Peugeot UO-8, 1988 Panasonic PT-3500, 2002 Bianchi Veloce, 2004 Bianchi Pista
1959 Bottecchia Milano-Sanremo(frame), 1966 Bottecchia Professional (frame), 1971 Bottecchia Professional (frame),
1973 Bottecchia Gran Turismo, 1974 Bottecchia Special, 1977 Bottecchia Special (frame),
1974 Peugeot UO-8, 1988 Panasonic PT-3500, 2002 Bianchi Veloce, 2004 Bianchi Pista
#13
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I'd choose original style decals.
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1971 Paramount P-13 Chrome
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1971 Paramount P-13 Chrome
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1991 Waterford Paramount
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#14
Disraeli Gears
I do have a late French Motobecane Team Champion (later than what's currently "collectible," like OP's Paramount), and it needs new "decalage." I don't mind the graphics so much, so I'll probably get them reproduced. The headbadge was foil, and sort of sucks, so I toyed with the idea of replacing it with one of the round brass ones; but that's not playing the restoration thing out fully, so I may chicken out, and "respect" the original.
OTOH, I have a Guerciotti SLX frame that has graphics that, to me, border on "worst of the 80s," and they're poorly placed too. So that one, I have no problem "reinterpreting" to suit myself
As for the Paramount in question -- I actually like the graphics on that generation, whereas I don't like the ones preceding and following it. So were it mine, I might change color, but I'd stay with the original graphics.
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Original decals.
I've seen a number of bikes on eBay and Craigslist that claim to be 531, claim to be this or that high end frame. But all I see is a painted (or powdercoated) mystery frame. I (almost*) always move on.
* I did buy one bike that purports to be a Gitane cyclocross, although all decals were removed when the bike was repainted. I won't call it a Gitane cyclocross until I know with certainty that it is a Gitane cyclocross. Until then, it's a cyclocross bike that may be a Gitane.
I've seen a number of bikes on eBay and Craigslist that claim to be 531, claim to be this or that high end frame. But all I see is a painted (or powdercoated) mystery frame. I (almost*) always move on.
* I did buy one bike that purports to be a Gitane cyclocross, although all decals were removed when the bike was repainted. I won't call it a Gitane cyclocross until I know with certainty that it is a Gitane cyclocross. Until then, it's a cyclocross bike that may be a Gitane.
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This is Dr. Deltron's handiwork.
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I think that lettering looks great. I don't really care for Schwinn graphics, but those spare, spread out letters look fantastic. That said, as a theft deterrent, I like my Raleigh Competition decals because they faded so much, you really have to look for them. I put modern Campy stuff on there and stripped all the stickers and labels to match.
Anyone who looks at my plain black logo-less bike has to be really interested...and I figure anyone who'd give a hoot would have too much class to be a bike thief.
Anyone who looks at my plain black logo-less bike has to be really interested...and I figure anyone who'd give a hoot would have too much class to be a bike thief.
#20
Steel is real, baby!
Decals.
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Well, using non-authentic decals pretty much shoots resale based on authenticity out of the water. Before doing that, think hard about what you want to achieve. I have no problem with "doing it your way," but I would do that with the understanding that the "collectible" value will suffer.
About 5 years ago, rust had taken it's toll on the chrome and on the rest of the frame. I decided to have the frame re-painted. Would I be doing any harm to put Ciocc decals on this frame? I am never going to sell the bike because it is such a great machine and has sentimental value. I know it was made by Ciocc, even though it was never sold with Ciocc decals.