40 Year Old Tank
- Thread starter bentrod
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The silver decal on the fireflake color tanks were different to the gold decal on the black tanks ?
There were different versions of decals for different years, too ?
The 850 decal for the blue fireflake was more white than silver ?
Gold decal edged in black.
Pretty obvious its for a 750...
850 decal - no black edging...
My black sidecover with gold decal and pinstripes, top of this page - no black edging.
Done for the sidecover decals because there is no mistaking what they are for.
Tanks decals would be the same style... ?
Where is LAB, he knows these decal versions...
There were different versions of decals for different years, too ?
The 850 decal for the blue fireflake was more white than silver ?
Gold decal edged in black.
Pretty obvious its for a 750...
850 decal - no black edging...
My black sidecover with gold decal and pinstripes, top of this page - no black edging.
Done for the sidecover decals because there is no mistaking what they are for.
Tanks decals would be the same style... ?
Where is LAB, he knows these decal versions...
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A tank hidden in the spares box might well indicate the paint was a bit suss , and we'd better hide it before the boss sees it .
Generally the paintwork was top notch . Almost as good as a Triumph .
Except for the Odd Monday & when the painter was low on paint ,
forgot to clean the gun . Or the pinstriper sneezed , or the lunch whistle went half way through the job . :x
Generally the paintwork was top notch . Almost as good as a Triumph .
Except for the Odd Monday & when the painter was low on paint ,forgot to clean the gun . Or the pinstriper sneezed , or the lunch whistle went half way through the job . :x
I have an early 73 850 #301160. Originally purchased by my father in June of 73. I am the second owner. Knowing the full history on my CDO I can tell you the tank has never been crashed, reconditioned, modified, or repainted. The decals and paint stripes are exactly the same as those shown on your tank.
Matt Spencer said:A tank hidden in the spares box might well indicate the paint was a bit suss , and we'd better hide it before the boss sees it .
Generally the paintwork was top notch . Almost as good as a Triumph .
forgot to clean the gun . Or the pinstriper sneezed , or the lunch whistle went half way through the job . :x
Very good Matty, that interstate tank was in its box because it leaked - on the showroom floor - and was replaced.
That actually means it was a factory done tank on a new bike, not a spare that came in that box.
The roadtests of the time sometimes commented on the weak paint on the Commando being tested, so don't take it as a given that all paint was brilliant.
Its been discussed here before that Nortons didn't have a paint shop (?), so the paint was done outside somewhere ?
Possibly by more than one supplier over the years ??
Corrections or additions to this welcome...
Rohan said:bentrod, your undertank photo shows some grey/blue light speckling in the top left corner.
Paint overspray ?
We notice the pics mostly keep away from the perimeter outer under-edges of the tank, any reason for this.
Rohan, your looking at reflections again
I took the picture with the tank on top of a piece of green foam,which is reflected onto the tank like this,
Same picture with a black bag blocking the reflection
This reminds me of what happen to me a long time ago. 1962 I was assigned to the 82d Airborne Division. I was 5' 7", weighed 119 pounds. When I was issued my gear I happened to have my helmet on. My platoon sgt told me to go to the supply room and get issued a smaller helmet. Well he told me to go to the supply sgt in the next company because he didn't have any left. So I went to the next company and told the supply sgt I needed a smaller helmet. Of course he knew I was being punked so he sent me to the next company.. the next supply sgt showed mercy on me and told me the joke. Helmets only came in one size. Well I get the feeling I being led around on this thread the same way. :lol:
The tank has the original in every way, no doubt in my mind. Jokes over.
Art
Sigh, we don't seem to be on the same planet with looking for repainted tanks.
Firstly, we have those lumps on the back of the front seam.
We have the grungy old underneath, and an immaculate top finish (without a chip or mark - after 40 years ???).
And no, I'm not looking at reflections.
But at the speckles in the pic.
This computer can't do fancy graphics, follow the skinny arrow to the speckled area.
Looks like paint (undercoat) overspray ??
Firstly, we have those lumps on the back of the front seam.
We have the grungy old underneath, and an immaculate top finish (without a chip or mark - after 40 years ???).
And no, I'm not looking at reflections.
But at the speckles in the pic.
This computer can't do fancy graphics, follow the skinny arrow to the speckled area.
Looks like paint (undercoat) overspray ??
Yes I've seen that one. Nice project.
Decal doesn't look to have the black outline in this shot. ?
About those undercoat speckles under the tank.... ?
And unmarked tank-top condition, and grungy undertank condition.
One of the first things you look for when buying a used bike, see if its been crashed and not immaculately redone ?
Didn't do a pic of the sidecovers that went with it. ?
They should be similar condition, if they are all the same era ?
Decal doesn't look to have the black outline in this shot. ?
About those undercoat speckles under the tank.... ?
And unmarked tank-top condition, and grungy undertank condition.
One of the first things you look for when buying a used bike, see if its been crashed and not immaculately redone ?
Didn't do a pic of the sidecovers that went with it. ?
They should be similar condition, if they are all the same era ?
Rohan said:
As I stated somewhere in the thread, the white spots is splash from the cutting polish caused by the buffer. I use a very wet wool pad when I do this. Makes a big mess.
The pictures are being taken with a cell phone, the tank isn't as unmarked as it appears in the photos.
Never been crashed, completely unmolested.
I also stated that I couldn't save the paint on the side covers, the decals were scratched and the covers rusted from inside.
Art
And you didn't photo them, to get the pinstripe and decal locations correct later on ??
Were the decals the same type - outlined in black ?
Were they waterslide type, or (thicker) vinyl type stick-on type ?
Questions, questions.
Nortons in detail are an almost unknown quantity....
Were the decals the same type - outlined in black ?
Were they waterslide type, or (thicker) vinyl type stick-on type ?
Questions, questions.
Nortons in detail are an almost unknown quantity....
Ron L
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My '73 blue metallic 750 Roadster came with gold trimmed with black tank and side cover decals. These were not die-cut but were one piece with clear vinyl between the letters. The kickstart side cover decal began to peel about 6 months after I bought it (in May '73). Of course by then there were no 750's in the showroom, but all 850's. The parts man sold me die cut gold side cover decals with no black trim, stating that it was all that was available. He showed me the bikes in the showroom (850's) and all of them were solid color die cut. By the way, the gold is darker on the one-piece than on the die-cut.
My bike still has the gold/black tank decal and solid die-cut side cover decals. I have a couple sets of old stock one-piece black trimmed side cover decals, just never put them on. I have never seen a one-piece 850 side cover decal (black trimmed), so I assume they were discontinued for the 850's. Of course it was not unusal for Norton to use up what was "in the bin" before moving to the new part so it is possible they used some of the tank decals on the 850 (striped) tanks. I could seem them using them up on black tanks.
My bike still has the gold/black tank decal and solid die-cut side cover decals. I have a couple sets of old stock one-piece black trimmed side cover decals, just never put them on. I have never seen a one-piece 850 side cover decal (black trimmed), so I assume they were discontinued for the 850's. Of course it was not unusal for Norton to use up what was "in the bin" before moving to the new part so it is possible they used some of the tank decals on the 850 (striped) tanks. I could seem them using them up on black tanks.
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