Last January, François V. contacted me to give his 1400 frame a makeover.
As soon as it arrived, this 1400 underwent the Atelier de la Vigne treatment.
First, a chemical stripping to remove all traces of the old paint without damaging the thin sheets.
Once this step was completed, the frame was sandblasted to remove all traces of rust, and finally micro-blasted to give it a "velvety" appearance, allowing for good paint adhesion.
Finally, a black glossy powder coating finished the treatment.
Not quite, as it was also necessary to trace all the pinstripes of this Solex 1400, and there were plenty of them: pinstripes on the fork arms, the beam, the central beam, the side members, the seat and luggage rack stays, and finally the mudguards!
Phew!
The frame was returned to its rightful owner, who completely reassembled it to achieve this superb result:
Note the "Dunlop" saddle, never mounted on this brand, but undoubtedly a period modification to ensure better comfort for the original owner's backside. 🙂
François V. is now ready for some lovely rides in Franche-Comté! Bravo for his magnificent work!