Bluegoat,
I like the profile, too, and think it looks better than I imagined it would. All of the long, creative staring over cups of coffee in the morning are paying off, I think.
Rick,
Glad you like the copper stuff,too. I feel like I may have over indulged a bit between this bike and the 1934 Elgin Velocipede to the point of almost becoming a copper miner. Along with the Indian Hiawatha this will be three bikes with copper gas tanks. For me it is the "poor man's gold" which I like all shined up pretty and also as the shine calms down into a more weathered and darker patina. Good both ways.
When I decided to use my old snow blower motor (Tecumseh 5H flathead) I didn't realize how good it would look all stripped down. I'd seen 5 horse Briggs engines transformed under the wizardry of msrfan, but didn't know the Tecumseh also had hidden beauty. I still don't understand why they aren't used much for bikes.
I also had no initial plans for a copper exhaust pipe or intake manifold which suggested themselves along the way as solutions to answer both intake and exhaust necessities with the additional benefit of looking real nice to my eye. If I were a competent welder I probably would not have considered copper. Necessity (as the saying goes) is the mother of invention. Copper plumbing parts are embedded in me brain from all the years of running a resort, repairing copper water pipes & fittings and running propane lines. Lots of soldering, too, from that water pipe work and from making leaded stained glass windows, having had a small studio for some years. Can't weld for beans, but I can solder. So you tend to go with what you already know and in my case these are the bikes that have resulted. Credit must also go to Tinsmith who is my copper gas tank guru. I ask and he answers. Having smart friends is a real good thing.
With some reluctance I took down the art show in my front window and have dismantled the "kindalikeawhizzer" into bits and pieces stowed into cardboard boxes. The frame has been painted with several coats of the mahogany brown and one wheel rim is also curing. Tomorrow will see the front wheel in paint and then I'll dig out the old fenders to clean up a few dents and surface rust before painting them as well. They are middle weight fenders from a 1953 Schwinn and may require making extensions on the whaddayacallems that hold the fenders to the axle... struts or supports or something. Fender dealies might be it. Especially with extra fat tires, (26" X 2.4" cyclops) the fenders will make the tires look even more substantial, which is how I want them to look, like a bicycle morphing into a light motorcycle. I found a can of bondo and will hope it is still good enough for a bit of dent filling body work before the fenders get stripped and painted.
I used to get my pants in a bundle trying overhard to make a paint job nice, but have gotten less anal about it in more recent builds after experiencing the inevitable (for me anyway) scratches, abrasions, scrapes and such that comes later during assembly and eventual riding. Such happens, so get used to it. I do try to use good paint (Van Syckles tractor enamel ) and try to lay it down so that it looks good with a lot of shine. But if there's an errant drip or run in a spot where the sun don't shine I let it go as good enough for government work. Years back I would have fussed over sanding out that drip and doing it over. Not now. Yet, I have every desire for this paint job to look nice and want to try my hand at two tone fenders with cream accents and pin stripes, just like the fenders when they were new. We'll see how they turn out. Anybody who looks at my bike from a few inches away just got run over, so I'm only concerned with the pass by view looking good. That's what all the shiny copper distraction is for. I remind myself that these are just motorbikes meant for riding and not to get too fussy. On the other hand, they are my bikes... and as the girlie once sang "It's my party and I'll cry if I want to..." Ha.
Pictures for show and tell will follow at some point. Focus is shifting over to the 34 Elgin Velocipede which has been sitting neglected in the back bedroom. Maybe she can sit in the front window for staring at over morning coffee. A good looking girl bike first thing in the morning would be nice to look at. Not as nice as a good looking girl first thing in the morning, but I am seventy years old now so there's that. A vintage bike is good and less hassle, I tell meself. Aaniimoosh The Wonder Dog grins in agreement, reminding me that she is my common law wife, so to speak (woof).
And spring thaw is indeed underway, early and a welcome thing. Today will be a balmy 58 degrees...!!! with real sunshine and blue sky, just like in the picture books. Snow pack is almost gone under the assault of recent sunshine. Looking forward to dirt and bare roads and yesterday pulled out the American Flyer for a dust off and look over to see what he wants before spring riding. I can hardly wait.
SB