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Some of you may know that I'm about 1/2 way through building a ground up custom bobber which has been inspired by too many hours in front of the TV watching shows like "Biker Build Off". I particularly like the old school look of bikes made by the likes of Indian Larry (RIP) and Paul Cox.... stipped back, no nonsense bikes - rigid frame, springer front end, kick start tranny etc etc.
I also love the chunky metal flake / candy / gold leaf paint jobs of the 60's & 70's and this lead me to wonder who's going to do the paint job.... Most people I asked said (rightly or wrongly) that there's no-one in Perth that really specialises in this style and "if I were you, I'd get someone in the US to do it". At first I thought it would be all to hard, but then I thought if I'm spending all this money on a custom build, I want it to be as good as it can be.... With this I sought the advice of a PSB Luminary who would point me in the right direction.... "El-Skitzo".... and he did just that.
He suggested 3 painters and said if you want the best, contact Robert Pradke in Connecticut..... when I looked at his website (customautodesign.com), the penny dropped.... this is the guy I've seen on Biker Build Off who painted all Indian Larry's bikes! Decision made!!
One night my wife said it was time for us to go on a family holiday and given the strength of the Aussie dollar, we should think about going to the USA (talk about being kissed on the dick by a fairy!!!)....so the stars were starting to align and we headed off the States in March.
Anyway, to cut to the chase, I send my tins over to Robert before I left, drove from Manhatten up to his house in Connecticut and spent 3 or 4 hours with him. What a great bloke and an amazing painter... He's started work on my job this week and I hope to get them back in a month or so.
I also made contact with Paul Cox and met up with him when I was in NY, he is doing the leather work on my seat and making some other one-off custom parts for me....e.g. brass risers. I also picked up one of his rigidaire kits whilst I was there. Fortunately, he had several of his bikes in the workshop including the "Baracuda", "Wild Thing" and the "Sword of Damocles"... amazing works of art.
Lastly, whilst in Brooklyn, I dropped into the Indian Larry Legacy workshop and met Bobby Seeger Jnr... It was a real buzz seeing up close some of Indian Larry's bikes - Wild Child, Chain of Misery and Daddy O....
Anyway, I'll shut up now and let you look at some photos.....
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Originally Posted by brethren22 
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