chuck:
I was responding to the "sign of the hand" analogy from Dale Brown. I have no knowledge of Raku pottery, but I think I know what he was alluding to. So, does a Toei lugged frame have that same flawlessly filed and brazed craftsmanship that we all are searching for? And all the bikes made in China are more refined in its execution?
Tom
> Tom Martin wrote:
> >
> (cut)
> > So I agree to a certain point. The same can be said of American
builders.
> > But what are we talking about here- the sign of the hand of the Euro
> > 'masters' was unsteady and shoddy in most respects if you take an
objective
> > view of their work. Bad paint, poor weld penetration, overheating of
> > surrounding metals, out of true frames and forks, etc are all 'signs of
the
> > hand' that the Europeans are guilty of too- not just the Taiwanese or
> > Mexicans. If we want to celebrate the sign of the hand then maybe we
should
> > look at the artisans in Mexico, India and western China too- all those
low
> > end bikes are hand made and not robotically welded since human labor
costs
> > are still cheaper than a robotic mig/tig welder doing the same
thing.(cut)
>
> I would say "the sign of the hand" analogy... finger marks in raku
> pottery translates illogically (my opinion) to a flawlessly brazed and
> filed custom lugged steel frame. No "machine built" frame is as refined
> in its execution.
>
> Chuck Schmidt
> L.A.
>
> .