Pitch White - a descriptor used by a childhood friend, at that time, to describe a white color he observed - that still leaves me pondering to this day.
Have a question about HD birch white. Here on the site in the color section reference is made to both “white” and “birch white”.
http://www.harleykmodel.com/technical/colors/index.html
I suspect that for a ‘56K where pepper red (base) and white (flash) are referenced that the white in this case refers to birch white, but below Dave H has suggested otherwise as has John Pierce of Colorwrite. Was wondering if all the references to white here on the site, circa 1952-1969, all refer to birch white or if there were other white colors used by HD in this era?
As others have previously noted here on the forum, birch white is not a brilliant appliance or polar white, but rather, has a distinctive warm or beige tint to it. On good authority I received the suggestion that Ford's color, Wimbledon white, is a very good match to the vintage birch white. I recall seeing this color in my youth on a variety of Ford vehicles in the ‘60s, and recall it as clearly being a very warm white color. I recently bought a spray can of Duplicolor Wimbledon white and indeed it is certainly a warm white color.
Fast forward several decades and I note that a HD paint code is now available for a birch white color used in the 1990s. The code I see referenced most often is PPG’s paint code 90303, which an autobody paint supply shop can mix for you. Does anybody know if this 1990s HD birch white color is the same as the vintage ’50-60s birch white color or something all together different? Thank you.
Red text is edited by author for consistency with Dave H in 5th post of topic.