snipped: <goodrichbikes@netzero.net> writes: So when did the bar start being raised in regard to craftsmanship? When did it start not being desirable to gouge a tube with a file and leave it or leave a big glop of brazing material around a lug edge? Curt Goodrich ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
to which e-Richie replied:
it was never desirable
> people and shops that would work to that standard
> were never in the vanguard. perhaps price point bicycles
> were left in a 'poorly finished' state. but the best-of-the-best
> always was well crafted. maybe not crafted in the contemporary
> sense, but crafted nonetheless.
> fwiw, i think summoning up the subject of craftsmanship often
> misleads people to concentrate only on the exterior. a well crafted
> bicycle frame starts from the inside and works its way outward.
> it's not always or just about the clean brazing, the crisp lug edges,
> or the glass-like top coats.
> e-RICHIE
> chester, ct
>
>
I would agree. As we've often discussed, fancy paint can hide a multitude of sins. In addition, I'd add that gross profit margin percentages *were* generally much tighter in the "old days." Like less than half of what they are now from what I've experienced personally. (Plus, during the days of hyperinflation, my boss' shop was borrowing money at 23% interest - two points over the Prime Rate of the time!)
Add to that the fact that finely crafted American framesets had to virtually compete head-to-head with mass-produced Italian framesets sold in Arni Nashbar's catalog for peanuts, and you can see why folks like Albert Eisentraut got more than a little frustrated. Of course, some of this hasn't changed all that much since then, but I don't think today's mail-order catalog companies are still working on 18% gross margin....
I think the comments about places like the Internet hooking customers up with sellers more easily and quickly today are right on the money too....
Greg Parker
A2 MI USA