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.

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

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

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

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?

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 )

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

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

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