pd,
Fortunately when I was a kid, my Dad had a gas station and I got to work on it at his place -- of course, he would always help bail me out when I would do something weird and the bike would start complaining. The amount of miles to get the new looking like the old isnt so much the challenge as the 60 years sitting in a shed gathering dust.  Fortunately, the bike lived in Texas where dry rot is more the issue than rust.  Good luck with your '57.

I dont recall how I found this web site but I am very happy to see so many folks, world wide, that are continuing a memory, physical and mental, of a bygone day for small but elite motor cycle -- the Simplex Servi-Cycle.  This website is truly a nice way to share.  Thanks for letting me join.

The history of my bike is simple -- I borrowed money from my Dad to purchase my 1955 Simplex Automatic from a dealer in Ardmore, Oklahoma in the spring/Summer of 1955 and paid my Dad back with proceeds from my paper route, which at that time was in Madill, Okla.  We moved to Texas in 1957 and the bike has been in my possession ever since -- either in my parents shed in Texas or, after they both passed away, in my shed in Virginia.  I last rode it to and from high school my Freshman year and put it in the shed when I bought my first car (1952 Chevy convertible -- which I wish I had also put in the shed).  I had always wanted to put it back on the road but never seemed to have the time or workshop to do so.  Therefore, I decided last year to take it to Wayne Mahaffey to do a complete restoration.  The only parts that were missing were the tail light and the idler arm spring -- all other pieces were present but, of course, not in pristine shape.
I am extremely happy with the outcome and am attaching a photo showing the before and after results.  My wife definitely likes the after but I am torn between memory of the before and looks of the after.