Mike,
The first thing on the list would be to have your head examined. If found to be sane and still wish to proceed then you have erned the right to be called eccentric.
The next quality is nebulous and I consider to be the most important. Somewhere there has to be some natural ability and inclination to do this kindof work. Unlike e-Richie, I was not inspired to undertake framebuilding on account of my first bike (I had a Peugeot PX-10 as opposed to a Hurlow) or anything of the sort. I never even gave it consideration. I fell into framebuilding by accident. I Just happened to meet Faliero Masi at a race in Escondido in 1973. I had him sign my race number since I was riding an ItalianMasi at the time. I casually asked the Manager (Roger Smith) if they were hiring anyone and he said no, but might as well drop off an application anyway. Did that the next day since I was in the Carlsbad area that Monday. I was hired within the week I guess primarily on account of I had wheelbuilding experience and had painted my own bike (the Peugeot paint job I mentioned last week). The rest is history.
The term "Master Framebuilder" is one that I have often wondered about. There is no certification or official decree of such a thing. It is a term that is thrown about by many. Personally, I don't take it too seriously; although if I was one I might feel differently about it. Maybe we need to come up with a mail order degree in framebuilding so these people can put some teeth into that title ;-)! The way I see it now, it's the same thing as earning your drivers liscence at the Disneyland Autopias! Maybe others see it differently, other opinions welcome.
Brian Baylis
La Mesa, CA
>
> rocklube@adnc.com wrote:
>
> > You don't need anyone to "teach" you, heck everyone does it differently
> > anyway.
>
> All this talk has made me wonder. What makes a builder a master? Do you
> get a certificate:)
>
> Seriously, I think all the builders we consider to be masters have been
> taught (and continually learn) through apprenticeship, etc... But, like
> BB says everyone of them interject their own style into the craft.
>
> I guess what I am curious about is what makes a great builder? Passion?
> Curiosity? Pride? Perfectionism or not? If someone was to make a top 10
> list of what makes a great frame builder what would it look like?
>
> We all know that the money is not good! In fact, this reminds me of the
> art vs craft discussion a few months back and it seems to me that those
> who continue the custom build have more in common with starving artists
> than with a tradesman who has a steady income...
>
> Anyway, what I really want to know is what the builders on the list are
> thinking as far as who is going to carry the torch?
>
> Mike "Sick of my job" Wilkinson
> Parker, CO