Decals & Transfers 1950 – 1959

Immediate post WW II graphics on Bertin’s early production were simple and clear. Headtube badges were made from painted, pressed metal and were screwed or rivetted into place. Decals were simple sans serif letters on the downtube. Information on the late 1940s production is not available at this time but I assume it is similar to the early 1950s design

A.BERTIN

The bicycle above is an early 1950s Bertin C 10. Note the contrasting head and seat tube panels. The frame is extentsively pinstriped in the seat tube colour and the white panel is trimmed by French national coloured bands above and below. The seat tube panel to the right is representative of the general style.

Partially missing is the A.B. diamond shaped decal common to Bertins up until the 1980s. Check the sample to the left.

Later graphic styles varied as can be seen from the mid-50s example which follows below. The dropout on this frameset indicates that it is a 1956 production bicycle. It retains the stamped/riveted head badge which time has robbed of its colour and the seat tube banding/A.B. diamond but the downtube logo has changed to a much more ornate form. The Arrow/Script version shown on this frameset was used until the 1960s on track, road and touring models alike.

This logo or similar variations would last forward into the mid-1960s. The orange frameset which follows is a well preserved example of a 1958 Bertin sport bike complete with all its graphics comparitively undamaged.

The head tube is now decorated by the familiar foil Bertin badge, extensive pinstriping is seen on the frame tubes and the head tube tri-coloured band has appeared to match the two on the seat tube. Seat stay caps have aquired tri-colour decals and the Durifort forks have gained white pinstriping on the crown.

Many early framesets were built with Vitus Durifort tubing in all of the frame and forks. Identifying decals appeared on the seat tube and both fork blades. The orange and white example above has the 3 main tubes in Durifort as well as the fork. The two photos below show the Vitus stickers which are two of the oldest I have record of.

3 Tubes Durifort

Durifort Forks

Most framesets built with Durifort were full Durifort tubes, forks and stays. However, I have no period illustrations of that decaling, but will add them if they become available.