TRADITIONAL Behrens Viscount

[Fv2]

I started tearing this down after work, hoping to get it ready for our big vacation in two weeks.
Suddenly, as of someone gently... Hitting me with a brick, it dawned on me. I should document this for the traditional category.

I've had this bike for years, and know nothing about it. I bought it the first time I went to the Ann Arbor swap many years ago. I rode it that summer, then it spent the next 6 or so years outside. Now it's back, it's back inside.

I don't have anything spectacular planned for it. Just want to clean it up a bit, but might add a couple things.

I've searched the forum for ways to rejuvenate the paint, and keep coming up with oxalic acid.
I'm wondering what other ways there are to do that. Not opposed to the acid, just trying to see what else might work.
It looks like someone painted over the original red, so going to dab some paint stripper under the bottom bracket and see what happens.

 

[The Renaissance Man]

Cool lugged frame and that head badge is awesome!

 

[kingfish254]

Cool frame to become the 50th BO19 Build!

 

[The Renaissance Man]

I've searched the forum for ways to rejuvenate the paint, and keep coming up with oxalic acid.
I'm wondering what other ways there are to do that. Not opposed to the acid, just trying to see what else might work.

I've had good luck with rubbing compound.

 

[Fv2]

I've had good luck with rubbing compound.

That's kind of where I'm at. Figure just get some mothers or meguires.

 

[Fv2]

The stripper didn't do much on its own, but some steel wool afterwards helped a bit.

 

[Fv2]

Cool lugged frame and that head badge is awesome!

I thought about bringing the airplane/aviation theme into it, but not sure.

 

[ingola]

I started tearing this down after work, hoping to get it ready for our big vacation in two weeks.
Suddenly, as of someone gently... Hitting me with a brick, it dawned on me. I should document this for the traditional category.

I've had this bike for years, and know nothing about it. I bought it the first time I went to the Ann Arbor swap many years ago. I rode it that summer, then it spent the next 6 or so years outside. Now it's back, it's back inside.
View attachment 267244View attachment 267245
View attachment 267246
View attachment 267247
I don't have anything spectacular planned for it. Just want to clean it up a bit, but might add a couple things.

I've searched the forum for ways to rejuvenate the paint, and keep coming up with oxalic acid.
I'm wondering what other ways there are to do that. Not opposed to the acid, just trying to see what else might work.
It looks like someone painted over the original red, so going to dab some paint stripper under the bottom bracket and see what happens.

Clay bar

 

[Pondo]

I like the head badge. I think I've read that oxalic acid sometimes doesn't play well with red. I've also read that WD-40 and 0000 steel wool works for cleaning and paint removal. I haven't tried it for the paint removal but it cleans pretty well. Have fun!

 

[One-eyed Sailor]

Proceed slowly with that paint!
Following!

 

[Chad T]

Cool lugged frame. 1 pc cranks? Don't think I've ever seen those together. To just shine without removing a light polish or cleaner wax. You could always do the boiled linseed oil deal but no idea how that's done.

 

[Fv2]

I like the head badge. I think I've read that oxalic acid sometimes doesn't play well with red. I've also read that WD-40 and 0000 steel wool works for cleaning and paint removal. I haven't tried it for the paint removal but it cleans pretty well. Have fun!

That works well for the red, and will probably keep at it.
Biggest issues is the white paint for the pin stripes and where it says Behrens on the seat tube. Everything I've tried so far removes it. Really hoping to avoid that.

Proceed slowly with that paint!
Following!

It's probably going to take the rest of this week to get it done.

Cool lugged frame. 1 pc cranks? Don't think I've ever seen those together. To just shine without removing a light polish or cleaner wax. You could always do the boiled linseed oil deal but no idea how that's done.

Yeah, one piece. This bike has been one of those odd deals. I think the fenders were chrome before too, but I haven't stripped the paint off those yet.

 

[Fv2]

Digging through the cabinet, remembered I had this tank and set it aside.
Today, I tried it on. Don't know what it's originally from, schwinn maybe?
But it fits pretty well.

Then I stood the frame up, and took a step back.

Nope.

It just takes away from the frame I think. Odd given how many canti frames had tanks, but I don't like it on this one.

 

[Wildcat]

I agree, the lugs should be focused on. I painted this frame but left the lugs bare metal.

Your tank is bigger than a Schwinn tank. I think it's from a Ross bike:

 

[Fv2]

I agree, the lugs should be focused on. I painted this frame but left the lugs bare metal.
View attachment 267354

Looks good that way.
I'll probably strip and paint this one day, but I want to recreate the Behrens on the seat tube.

 

[Fv2]

Your tank is bigger than a Schwinn tank. I think it's from a Ross bike:

View attachment 267355

I think you're right. Looks the same to me.

 

[Fv2]

Put some paint stripper on the fender, then a wire wheel.
The stripper removed the brown paint down to what I think is an etching primer, and the wire wheel took it through rust to bare metal.
There are some small spots that look like old chrome. So I think they were just rusted out chrome.
I'll probably just strip them to bare metal and clear them??

 

[kingfish254]

That tank fits very well. I agree with Wildcat. It's from a Ross or Stelber bike.

In regards to the paint, there seems to be ongoing commentary in this build off that strippers just don't work as hard as they used to.

 

[Wildcat]

Strip to bare metal and clear sounds good.

I think it's just shiny metal. I did some hunting around to find info on that bike, no Viscount or Behrens matched up with that frame. I've seen a lugged frame with a American BB but I can't remember where.

 

[Fv2]

That tank fits very well. I agree with Wildcat. It's from a Ross or Stelber bike.

In regards to the paint, there seems to be ongoing commentary in this build off that strippers just don't work as hard as they used to.

That's because a dollar don't get you much these days.