Cycle Repairing and Adjusting
With a Chapter on building a Bicycle from a Set of Parts

CYCLE ENAMELLING AND PLATING 69 written to and a stamped envelope sent for return, the number of the machine given, and saying that the machine has been re-enamelled. The enameller will fix them on properly if told just where they are required ; or if it is preferred to fix them at home, a little good gold-size is required. Place the transfer face upwards on a flat sur- face, and give the pattern only a thin, even coat with a small camel-hair brush. Let this stand until almost dry, so that it only just feels “ tacky ” when touched with the finger tip. Place in position, carefully press down, and rub firmly all over with a piece of rag, being very careful not to move the transfer in its place, or it will be spoilt. Now damp the surface of the transfer with a sponge and warm water for preference, and after two or three minutes lift one corner and peel off. When quite dry give the sur- face of the transfer a coat of the gold-size or transparent varnish. It should be stoved to set the varnish properly ; but in the absence of a stove warm the back of the work over a gas jet, being careful not to make it too hot and so blister the gold. Do not be in too great a hurry to put the transfer on after gold-sizing it, but let it get a good dry “ tack ” before applying. Ninety per cent, of failures in transfer fixing are caused by not giving the gold-size time to set properly. Should it appear rather too dry, slightly warm the surface of the work before putting on the transfer. The fixing of transfers is a fairly simple operation when the surface to which the transfer is to be applied is a flat panel or a round bar ; but in the case of a mudguard, where the surface is parabolic, it is very difficult to press