I think the reason to buy a reproduction is that often one cannot find the original in excellent condition in one's own size, or does not have the time to conduct the necessary search to find such an original. This is why I am purchasing a new Bates, and I have learned three other new Bates have recently been purchased by list members (Martin's business must be booming). I am able to specify exact dimensions, brazeons and color, which would be impossible in an original. Plus, with UK framebuilders still charging much less than US prices, a new Bates probabaly is no more expensive than a mint condition original in one's size, if one could even be found. Perhaps the Bates, like the new Flying Gate, is a bit of a special case, since the inclusion of Cantiflex tubing and Diadrant forks give the new ones most of the unique style which was the appeal of the original. In fact, it was the stories about Reynolds discontinuing many traditional product lines that motivated me to buy a Bates at this time, as I fear the unique tubes may not be available much longer.
Regards,
Jerry Moos
Houston, TX
> Richard M Sachs wrote:
> >
> > why do people want (CR type) bicycles that are made
> > under license, that are reissues and/or reproductions of
> > originals? in many cases the newer versions are are made
> > better. but they're not originals.
> > am i wrong to equate this with fake rolexs or louis vuiton handbags?
> > this hetchins and masi stuff is at the core of my query.
>
> I'm always mystified why someone wants a reissue/reproduction. The
> original is almost always less than the reissue. Makes no sense to me.
>
> If you're talking about watches, the analogy is not fake Rolexs, but the
> very common practice of many watch companies today to reissue their own
> watch designs from the 1930s through 1960s. The reissue is _always_
> more money than the original watch on the collector market. Crazy!
>
> Chuck Schmidt
> SoPas, SoCal
>
> .