Well JW,
You are tempting me to resurrect it for fun.
The paint-job is original, as from Major's workshop, so it's not likely I would remove it at all. There are some scratches, but it's practice I am told to retain the original paint-job as long as it's respectable, which this is. A few scratches, but nothing that would spoil a nice clean and polish. The transfers are from Frank Dyke, (Also long since departed) the guy from whom I bought the frame, and who built up the bike for me. Major Nichols did make frames for other bike builders of course. I saw Major a few years before he passed on, and he confirmed it was one of his frames. If there is any doubt, there is a number on the forks-stem. (Major did this on frames he supplied to other firms. It means the forks have to be kept with the frame or you lose the original stamping, and of course the forks have to be dismantled to get at the number.
The bike has a six ring carrousel, and a double chain-ring, (clanger) but I can't recall the ratios. I had it configured for hill-work, as where I live the terrain is undulating, to say the least. As a result, Wales was always a good place to take the bike. My inside leg is 31" too as it happens, but I still have to lower the saddle to keep my feet flat when stationary. I can always dismount and straddle the bike, but that can present problems when riding off from traffic lights etc.
I'll have a look on the flea-bay, just for interest. If I do get the bike running again, someone might just have more use for it than me!
Cheers and take care out there
Mordecai
PS. I had a look at the red, Major Nichols frame on Ebay. The frame seems to be identical in style to mine, right down to the lining 'fishtail' symbol on the top of the rear forks. (My frame is a metallic Copper, with gold lining.) In all other respects it's the same as mine, although I can't recall if mine has a wraparound rear fork feature.
M.