John Doe No. 438

[CCR]

the anticipation has set in

[fsjaak]

The Plot Thickens
Luckily, the two cinch bolts on the bottom bracket shell were easily removed and remained intact.

Once the bolts had been removed, the bearing cups were easily removed by the usual fashion of lightly applying pressure from the opposite side of the bottom bracket shell forcing the cups out of the shell. With that done another mysterious clue presents itself. The inside of the shell has threads cut in on both sides and yet the cups are not threaded. Given our previous experience with the circumstances surrounding the crank arm assembly, we were puzzled by the lack of threads in the bearing cups but very happy to realize that we had not inadvertently attempted to force the cups, had they been threaded, from the shell which would have been catastrophic.
Q: Had these been replaced with newer, unthreaded cups? Was someone lazy or neglectful during the original build? Did the subject even have threaded cups originally?

Any information leading to the the true identity of the subject would be most appreciated.

[cman]

The Pinch bolts indicate you could use a Eccentric Bottom Bracket. You would not need one since the drop outs are horizantal.

[fsjaak]

Only one remaining fixture requires removal. The left side chain adjuster is frozen into dropout and the head of the screw has been broken off. This most likely occurred during previous attempts to adjust or remove the screw. Again this piece has been marinating in MMO for some time and we hope that we might be able to extract it with a good grip of the good old vise-grips.

FAIL!
Well, I guess we weren't too surprised when the remaining portion of the screw broke off flush with the dropout. There had been a hint of movement but it really wasn't going anywhere.

Since then the screw has been drilled out and the hole tapped with 10-32 threads. Good as new.

The forensics people could only note a few more distinguishing marks and scars from old injuries which may turn out to be leads for investigators.
Firstly, the two holes located in the headtube indicate that there had been a headbadge affixed which probably displayed the identity of the original builder.

Next, a serial number, 14971, was discovered stamped into the right side of the seat lug.

Finally, a number of significant dents were found in the seat tube, right seat stay, and top tube which suggested a rough and tumble life.


Having pretty much satisfied ourselves that there remain no other obvious clues as to the identity of our stranger or how he came to this state of condition, we are now ready to begin the reconstruction. Surface preparation of the remains will be next.

[Critter1]

This is one of the coolest build threads in RRBBO6! (IMO) The name is perfect. Where did the #438 come from. Shouldn't it be #14971 ?

[fsjaak]

Thanks for the note. The number stamped on frame might eventually lead to the actual identity but until then No.438 represents the number of bodies processed by this office.

[fsjaak]

Now that all jewelry, personal effects and accessories have been removed, the recovery process begins. We are starting with a bone dry skeleton with only remnants of epidermal layers still remaining.

Most of epidermus almost non-existant. There is evidence that, although the ravages of time as well as the aftermath of whatever events led to the demise of our subject have almost oblitered most of the outer layers, there are a few areas that appear to have been protected by splotches of dried lubricant and grease.

WASH - RINSE - REPEAT
The Road To Recovery
A liberal amount of salve is applied thoroughly with a shop rag. Let stand 24 - 48 hours.
REPEAT





All that we can do now is wait.

[Gdcast]

Funny how beauty standards work...
Wile some of us would try our best trying to create or simulate that exceptional rust patina,
others want clean shiny metal.

Now leaving that reflection behind,
subject is looking great, awesome work is being done on the lab.

[custombikebuilder]

looks like a hiawatha or something have fun with this one

[fsjaak]

The fork has been scraped with single edge razor blade, lightly sanded, and rubbed out with #00 fine steel wool. Wipe down thorougly with clean shop rag.


Once treated, close inspection confirms theory that entire fork was undoubtedly originaly plated with Nickel.


A final step will be a rub with denatured alc. to remove remains of a coating of aluminum enamel probably applied later in life to conceal the effects of time and hard use.

[Markm]

[2dawgs]

I feel like I'm watching an episode of CSI and the autopsy was successful. Continue Doctor.

[rickpaulos]

Well, I've seen worse. Or maybe I was grave robbing. I literally dug this schwinn up in my back yard next to the creek in a sand bar.

http://s144.photobucket.com/albums/r198 ... =slideshow

Didn't sell on the <snip> market so it went to the metal recyclers.

[Gdcast]

Well, I've seen worse. Or maybe I was grave robbing. I literally dug this schwinn up in my back yard next to the creek in a sand bar.

http://s144.photobucket.com/albums/r198 ... =slideshow

Didn't sell on the <snip> market so it went to the metal recyclers.

Dead and mutilated, ouch!

[fsjaak]

Well, I've seen worse. Or maybe I was grave robbing. I literally dug this schwinn up in my back yard next to the creek in a sand bar.

http://s144.photobucket.com/albums/r198 ... =slideshow

Didn't sell on the <snip> market so it went to the metal recyclers.

Now I think I must be watching an episode of BONES!