When I wrenched, we had a "Joe Coasterbrake" named Bob Sitterly who was a shop lifer. A Joe Coasterbrake is an exceptionally experienced mechanic who can fix absolutely anything on any bike, but typically lets the young guys work on the fun stuff. I watched Bob do everything from SWs to cab rubber on a high wheeler.
Anyway, two things Bob explicitly taught me were that a good mechanic always strives to leave no toolmarks anywhere on the bike, including the places where the tool is supposed to be used, and that a good mechanic NEVER drops his tools. I worked with Bob many summers and a few winters as well. I never saw him drop a tool. Myself, I heard the clang of steel against the bottom of my Park stand many times. Still, I believe Bob was right.
Of course, he also said that "Anyone can work with tools, the trick is to be able to work without tools" when he saw us ordering up trick VAR, ELDI and Campy stuff. I once saw a duplicate of his truing stand in the Wright Borthers Museum. He also wrote NFRG on the end of the Raleigh return box. You figure that one out. (The R stood for Rotten.)
Steve Barner, Bolton, Vermont
> Date: Wed, 4 Jun 2003 10:41:07 -0700
> From: "Joe Bell" <joebell@cox.net>
> To: "Steven L. Sheffield" <stevens@veloworks.com>,
> "Classic Rendezvous" <Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> Subject: Re: [CR]Re:was 1983?? Guess I'm looking for a new list...now
> preshakedown ride frame prep
> Steven,
> I understand your view about this, but nicks, scratches and other "badges
of
> honor" are meant to be earned out on the road, not the result of a
mechanic
> fumbling with a greasy wrench.
----Snip----
> We buy it in 1" and 2" widths for different size tubes. I've seen him
drop
> wrenches on the frame from time to time and they bounce off the tape with
no
> harm done to the finish underneath. Many headaches are avoided this way.
> When all work is done, simply pull the tape off and clean any residue with
> some Pledge or other mild cleaner. If the paint comes off with the tape,
> THAT is a whole 'nother problem altogether.