1934 VLD Paint color(s) & Styles....I need to make a decision

[Chris Haynes]

When you use photobucket it is automatically resized.

[pete reeves]

Heres a picture of a front 34 fender looks original?


pete reeves 860

[Chris Haynes]

The diamond on the fenders sure don't show in that photo.

What is up with that ?

Because the diamonds on on the top of the fenders which can't be seen in the photo.

[William McClean]

So the Diamond on the rear fender STOPS at the Top of the arch and does Not come any further forward than the Appex of the arch ??

I have seen that diamond extend forward to include the 3 rivets in the rear fender, well into the camera view from that angle.

By the way where did the 3 rivets go ? Isn't that a location to mount bracket for the Chummy seat spring?

Rub says he has found in the Sept. 1933 Enthusiast photos showing No diamonds on Commercial and Police mounts. Commercial and police mounnts were probably not designed for the Chummy seat. Is this a photo of one of those ?

Chris, what is the origin of this photo ? Was it a HD press photo, shot for advertisement ? Any date on it ?

Pete could we see another photo of your fender showing how far forward the point of the diamond is to the front of the fender ?

And thanks to Everyone for playing !

[Rooster]

Robbie asked me to resize his scans from the 1933 The Motorcyclist. He emailed them to me, I manipulated and condensed the files so they would be under the maximum size allowed as attachments in this forum, then I emailed them back to him. Somewhere along the digital pathway between us, they grew in size above that maximum limit. So he asked me to post them for him, which I am doing here now.
With the software that I use, it is a simple task to digitally compress and alter both the physical and/or digital size of photo files. But--- it could be 'simple' because I've been using this software for at least 12 years. If anyone else has problems with the size of files, PM me - - - I don't mind helping, and it's fast and easy.
However, if you use Photobucket or ImageShack (I like Imageshack better) you can upload your photos there, and simply post a link here. Both hosting sites are completely free and relatively easy to use.

Okay then........... here's the pics!!

[Johnny]

With help from Chris and PhotoBucket, here are a few photos taken at the H-D archives.
The first 4 photos are of the 1934 VL they have. The next 3 are of a rear fender tail section that was kept as reference for pin striping.


This is the rear side of the front fender showing how the striping ends at the upper front stand mounting screw.


This shows the front side of the rear fender with the striping ending approx. 1/2" above the mounting tab.


This shows the front side of the front fender.


This shows the rear section of the right side gas tank with the striping beginning at the 90 degree cut-out in the tank.







I hope this helps.........Johnny

[Chris Haynes]

Helpful. But one thing that is very important about the factory bikes. Some numb nuts persons decided that the collection was a bit dinged and scratched so a large number of these "ORIGINAL PAINT" machines got restored. Sad that in this day in age that they let that happen. Obviously a lot of the bikes were done at the same time and place as parts got mixed up. One thing I noticed is bikes that should have stepped hubs on them do not and the stepped hubs appear on bikes that shouldn't have them.

[Rubone]

Thanks to Tom for posting my scans. However, they are "Motorcyclist" and not "Enthusiast". The August '33 issue of the "Enthusiast" shows the new '34 models and the September issue the police models. Police versions were a big deal as approximately half of the sales during the Depression were police. If anyone needs that info I am happy to provide it. Also anything from the '34 accessory catalog.
Robbie

[Rooster]

(My mistake, Robbie. I edited my post to show the correct magazine your scans are of.)

[William McClean]

Thanks to all for the posts !

Since about half of the sales were for police units during the depression, probably about half of the machines produced had a basic paint scheme. I'm sure that a several departments had special paint requests for their fleet work.

In sales literature where these paint schemes are itemized and priced is there an up charge for the " deluxe " paint jobs ??

According to ' The Illustrated Directory of HD Motorcycles ' by Todd Raferty, 2001. there was " In 1934.. .. an optional $15 Chrome package that include handlebars, exhaust pipes , chain gaurd and generator cover. "

If an original private purchaser noted a difference in price among the paint options, chrome pack, and other goo-gahs, then weighed the cost of a "deluxe " paint scheme to the cost of a pint of paint and apply it yourself, during the depression what would your choice have been ?

Once a police unit, without the fender diamonds, left civic service into private hands the new owner might have been motivated to dress up the basic paint by adding the diamonds to the fenders.

[Chris Haynes]

Here are links to the front and rear of the 1934 Order Blanks. When you go to my web site be sure to register so that you can view enlarged photos.
http://www.vintageamericanmotorcycle...Blank.jpg.html
http://www.vintageamericanmotorcycle...k+001.jpg.html

[Greg H]

original paint 34?

Maybe of some help, this 34 pic ( original paint ?) taken at AMCA Europe Dinkelsbuhl meet.
Steve Slocombe could probably confirm?

[Steve Slocombe]

Yup, thats a picture of the one surviving 34RLDX (out of the one built) at our 2008 National Meet in Germany. It's in the teak red and silver paint scheme which has black striping. Note the late season Copper and Vermilion paint scheme also has dark or black striping. And don't forget the Spring Special sensation of Verdant Green and Black is also mentioned as a 1934 colour in the 1935 new model Enthusiast. All other schemes should have gold striping, except the Orlando Orange/Black scheme where the surviving original paint bike shows a white or cream stripe. This could be the striping colour shown in the accessory books as Florentine - does anyone have a sample of this?

On the factory pattern rear mudguards I disagree with the one labelled 1929-33, as I think the only bike to use the solid colour centre panel was the 1933 vermilion/black scheme. All other 1933 and earlier standard paint schemes seem to use only stripes either side of the central hump in the mudguard. But any further info is welcome.