work for Arlen

Scanned from a 1978 Kodak print. These are just the tanks from sets I leafed and striped for Arlen in 1978. About every two weeks he would drop off and pick up parts, a very prolific painter at the time. I was doing work for 3 other painters also, while working full time in the printing trades. These are lacquer and have been sanded with 600 grit which is why they look dull. Arlen and the other painters would then clear them with lacquer and rub them smooth. I was one of several stripers working with daggerlac paint which was compatible with the base and clear acrylic lacquers we used at the time. Many car stripers used OneShot enamel and top coating with lacquer caused the striping to wrinkle.

Using alcohol based sizing (glue) which was ready to leaf in minutes I could layout and apply the leaf to a set of tanks and fenders in two or three hours. My first wife would sometimes help me by applying the leaf while I painted the sizing on the next part. After drying overnight, I would then burnish and stripe the job the following night. Working every night after my day job as a printer and all day into the night on weekends. In 1978 I striped and leafed more than 100 bikes,cars,vans and even two snowmobiles belonging to my friend, Jim Davis.