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Updated 14 February 2010

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From Garbage to Greatness

It all starts with an old piece of, well as they say, one person's garbage is another person's treasure. You just have to have a vision.

The motorcycle frame shown here is badly rusted and covered with generations of grime and flaking paint. Shown here as a frame skeleton, this is how the actual restoration hand work begins. Previous to this there has been documentation, research, forensic analysis, curatorial and exhibition discussion.

It requires much hard work to take an object and see it through to a state worthy of being publicly displayed. The corrosion is removed after verifying paint colour and colour field areas on the remains of the motorcycle. Lists of parts present and those missing are prepared. Photographs and sketches are made for records. Actual corrosion and old deteriorated paint removal is done using a variety of mechanical and chemical methods.

Nothing is done which would harm the inherent character, information or charm of the original artifact.

Did I say, "work hard?" I meant to say, "Work long and hard!" After a while, the project starts to resemble it's original condition. It is starting to look pretty good.
Missing portions of the frame and mechanical parts are located or fabricated. Fabricated or donated parts are marked appropriately and put in their proper places on the machine.

Base and final coats of paint are applied to the frame prior to the full reassembly. Reproduction tires are acquired and wheel assemblies are trued up. New or fabricated parts are sent out for the appropriate plating and finishing.

A lot of research goes into restoration because the artifact has to be fixed and recreated using the methods and materials of earlier days. An old object with a new coat of paint is not necessarily as valuable historically as an old object that needs fixing up.

After final painting and mechanical fitting, cables, controls and electrical wiring are put back into place. Perished electrical fittings are replaced with vintage or reproduction pieces. Newly made but to 'old' specifications and look, wiring is used to replace missing portions of the original. Final adjustments to the engine carburetor, timing and spark equipment are made.

When the project is finally done it is ready to be shown to the public. A project like the Indian Motorcycle Restoration took hundred's of hours to restore.

This is the final result of the restoration process. Although not restored to operate, projects such as this are often restored to running condition so that internal lubrication and proper fitting occurs when the moving parts are carefully turned by hand, as should be done several times a year. Using appropriate lubricants, such a procedure ensures the long life of such a restored artifact and lasting satisfaction for museum and viewing public alike.