[Ian Spencer]

Can anyone tell me when they changed from the smaller gold patent decal to the longer one? My unrestored ’65 Huffy 4 speed has the smaller gold one, but I am not clear as to which ones I need for my other bikes that have been restored now. Most of these bikes were in such rough shape that I couldn’t even document that decal when the project started.

[kenneth buttterfield]

All the original speedsixes that I have seen have had the longer ones, it’s a bit like the old chestnut about gold tint headbadges (self adhesive) which are often seen on speedsixes, but nobody knows why?

[Matthew Dunn]

Don’t suppose anyone knows where I can source the decal? Julian’s run out unfortunately and he doesn’t plan to make any until later in the year.
Matt

[Ian Spencer]

I was thinking that the difference was an early/late type of thing. The longer decal has more patent info on it which simply leads me to believe it was a later decal. My unrestored bike has the small gold one one it and it has a frame date of 65. Could the difference be due to components? What I mean is, a speedsix has a derailleur and it would be covered under other patents, therefore getting a different patent decal. Just thinking out loud here… Are there documented bikes older than 65 with the longer decal?

[kenneth buttterfield]

It certainly looks like AM patented every detail and so its no wonder that the patent transfer grew in size, and of course the expanding export market meant more numbers…am I dreaming or have I seen USSR on some of them?
Here is an application from 1966 I spotted some time ago:

http://www.google.com/patents/US3280932

[Ian Spencer]

Yes, the longer decal does have USSR on it!

[kenneth buttterfield]

just found this original and it brings up that old chestnut of dry fix, waterslide or printed decal/sticker.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/worksmoulton/7109919271/in/photostream

For ease of production waterslide is the usual method for restorers, but as you can see, this is a dry fix, and to be honest water slide is OK on the wing of model airkraft kits but far too fragile for bike frames.
Printed self adhesive is the modern way to go and with digital equipment the end product is near perfect…ie. no fading.
I believe that dry fix would also be available inbatches?

[Ian Spencer]

Right, I don’t know who well the water slide will hold up. I can easily make the reproductions off of an inkjet printer using water slide paper, but finding someone to make them in dry fix is a little more diffacult.

[Matthew Dunn]

I’ve used some water slide decal paper for laser printers (being laser it’s waterproof and the ink doesn’t react to our 2k poly paints) with mixed results in the past, they sometimes shrink or pickle the clearcoat. Reading the info sheet that comes with Julian’s water slide ones it recommends leaving the paint to off-gas for a week before applying them and this might be the answer. Do you happen to know what font the decal uses so I can have a go at reproducing it?
It’s a UK made product but I’m sure you can get something the same or better over your side of the pond, you guys seem to have loads of cool products that’s nearly impossible to get over here including peanut butter M&M’s! : O )

[Ian Spencer]

LOl… right Matthew…

I ve done a simple attempt at making the water slide decal. Not ideal in my opinion. I made mine with water slide paper that I bought off of eBay. After printing on my ink jet, I clear coated the paper to seal the ink. The water slide worked just fine, but the lettering is too transparent after it’s applied. I’m going to try to find a professional that can make these at a higher quality than I can produce.

[Matthew Dunn]

Hi Ian,
Do you have a template for the decal at all? If I could get a copy I’ll try it on the laser printer and see if it’s not as translucent.
How’s the renovation coming along by the way?
Matt

[Ian Spencer]

I’ve not really spent a lot of time on the details of it yet, I wanted to see how it printed out before I focused on the details. I kinda quit playing on it for a while. Got side tracked here this week with some other things not relating to Moultons. I’ll need to get back on them again.

I’m hoping to paint the speedsix soon. I need to do a little more prep work before I’ll be ready to lay down color. Been too busy lately with family stuff and I jst cant seem to make it out to the garage!

[Matthew Dunn]

Does anyone know what the font is? Is it the grotesque like the rest of them?

Ian, if I manage to get it looking ok I can send you some samples. Fingers crossed the laser will make the lettering more opaque.
Good luck with the painting. I’m sanding the first layer of clear at the moment, 4 hours to do most of the main part of the frame… It’s such a pain. Still, just both forks and rack to go.
Good luck!
Matt

[Matthew Dunn]

By the way Ian, I noticed the black stuff the decal is on in your picture looks a lot like the Gem bar tape the Speedsix used. I just bought some from eBay in the US and saw it was made in Leicester just down the road from where I live; kind of funny, it’s taken almost 50 years and a trip to America for it to come back home!
Matt

[Ian Spencer]

That was Ken’s picture of the decal, not mine.

[Matthew Dunn]

Ahh, very true. Thanks Ian,
Matt

[kenneth buttterfield]

hi matt….I thought you might think the backgroubd was carbon fibre?….but it is just my garden chairs!
ken

[kenneth buttterfield]

hi matt….I thought you might think the backgroubd was carbon fibre?….but it is just my garden chairs!
ken

[Matthew Dunn]

Pretty rubbish guess, don’t go cutting them up! : o )

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