I wanted to elaborate a bit about this bicycle frame painting thread in a broad overview...
In a message dated 1/18/2004 12:08:01 PM Eastern Standard Time, prkbikes@bellsouth.net writes:
<< Listed below is a digest about frame painting........ I have had work done by Fresh Frames in the past and have been very pleased.........I have also had work done by one of Dale's guys named Jay Schiavione. He is very good too. I don't know though if he is still painting or if he has gone back into his other business. >>
I hope everyone is alerted that Fresh Frames is closed down.. Also, Cycles of Color/ Jay Schiavone is no longer in operation.
This is where I wanted to explain the different kinds of frame services offered. I think it's important to understand the differences.
Complete paint shops, i.e., work is done in-house. Here is a partial listing of USA sources: - CyclArt, CA - Joe Bell, CA - Brian Baylis, CA - Spectrum Powder (& wet) in CO. - Rainbow in CO, Pfeiffer in SC - Peter Weigle in Conn. - Franklin in OH - Airglow in GA - Ed Litton in CA - Ted Wojek in Mass. - Waterford in WI - Creative Cycleworks in Louisiana - Assenmacher in MI - Chris Kvale in MN - BREW in NC - Davidson Cycles in Seattle - Spectrum Cycles (Tom Kellogg) in PA - Hot Tubes in Mass - The guy who used to be a painter for Serotta in NY? - Velochrome (formerly Cycle Shades) CA - D & D in CA? Are they still at it? - That place in NJ which has the super inexpensive jobs. Advertise in VeloNews but I can't find a reference to them as I write this. - There are likely more. Some painters are quietly operating along in relative obscurity and others may have gone out of business.
Also worth noting that some frame builders do their own paint but many do not. In all the above cases, quality, pricing, aesthetic approach can widely vary. The size and sophistication of the workshops varies greatly too. For example, Cyclart's facility is truly amazing. Fancy spray booth, many workstations, a showroom which contains many illustrations of past work and available services. Brain Baylis, who many tell me is the "best living bike painter," has a very modest one man show.
There are others supplying paint services, like cycles de ORO, that do not have on-premises paint booths, but instead contract out the work, essentially are brokers for the work. I won't list those sources but they are many.
In cycles de ORO's case, we receive the work, analyze the problems, locate decals, perform metalwork & braze-ons, machining and modifications. Then, having trained and coached the painter, turn the paintwork over to him (The last one was Jay Schiavone now is an automobile specialist.) After the paint, we do the finish work including pinstriping and thread cleaning.
Of course the big advantage the in-house painters have is that of controlling every aspect of the work. And most of the time, bicycle frame painting is their only business.
In our case, paint orders are just a small part of our total business and we cannot control the priority of the painters work. The paint jobs we send our painter are not necessarily high priority for him, especially if a Ferrari or something is in line ahead of us! In cycles de ORO's case, the only advantage is me, my experience and knowledge about old bikes.
There is also the issue of pricing. cycles de ORO has been positioned to be in the middle; not super cheapo and not the elite. I have sent a few my own frames to California for special services. But I have to give up the cheapskate part of my nature!
All of the paint services suppliers suffer from systems and communication problems. It is inherent in such complex operations. Add to that customers expectations, booth realistic and unrealistic, and you have a system that can see foul ups and unhappy people on both sides!
The profitability (a necessity to stay in business) of bicycle frame painting is marginal at best, so all frame painters choose their craft as a "lifestyle" decision rather than a means to personal wealth. Many have chosen to abandon rather than stick with it. I often wonder if cycles de ORO should continue to provide these services. A sharp business manager would answer that question in a blink of the eye! (i.e., "Not worth the trouble, profit wise!") Nonetheless, we journey on, trying to remember this is mostly about the cool old bikes and the rich relationship we have with the bike's owners. Trying to be better at what we do and to please everyone. Oh, the folly of it all! Ha! That's all from me on this topic... Thanks Dale
Dale Brown
Greensboro, NC