RE: [CR]More... What did the old builders have in mind.. now QUALITY.

(Example: Framebuilding:Paint)

From: "Anvil Bikeworks" <ojv@earthlink.net>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: RE: [CR]More... What did the old builders have in mind.. now QUALITY.
Date: Fri, 9 Apr 2004 09:32:52 -0600
In-Reply-To: <1c5.16ded452.2da81669@aol.com>


Outside of framebuilding, I know a good number of craftsmen that create their own products, blacksmiths, machinists, furniture makers, metal sculpture, etc. I divide them into two groups: those that strive for the best, not only their personal best, but the best of their peers, and those that accomplish the intent of their design and say, "that's good enough" for what it's for.

By my observation, the latter group always seems to make more money and have more work. Striving for perfection takes time and often pays little. Look at today's bike industry. eRichie has been pursuing his own brand of perfection for 30-years, puts a lot of hours and effort into his bikes and while the wait is long, it still does not demand the price of any number of mass-produced frames on the market. The price he pays to have them painted alone is near the gross cost of many high-end/expensive production frames.

How does this relate? I think many of the "icons" were not what we want them to be, i.e., laboring ferverently, striving for perfection; they likely had more utilitarian goals. In the Euro culture, framebuilding was not seen so much as an artistic endeavor as it was a trade or a craft; there was no incentive other than personal satisfaction to make a bike better than it needed to be for the purposes it was designed for.

Cheers! Don Ferris Anvil Bikeworks, Inc. Littleton, Colorado Ph: 303.471.7533 / 303.919.9073 Fax: 413.556.6825 http://www.anvilbikes.com

-----Original Message----- From: classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org [mailto:classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org] On Behalf Of OROBOYZ@aol.com Sent: Friday, April 09, 2004 9:08 AM To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: Re: [CR]More... What did the old builders have in mind.. now QUALITY.

In a message dated 4/9/2004 10:50:52 AM Eastern Daylight Time, richardsachs@juno.com writes:

<< imo, the americanization of the bicycle industry was to blame. >>

Oh great! Now you are blaming the U.. S.. of A? Ha! That's too easy!

Well.... you maybe be partially right (Nah!)

So you are saying in the beginning, these guys humbly plied their trade in their lonely studios, with no goal or strategy to be famous or not wanting paid highly for their trade skills? And that the disease of capitalism infected their minds and turned them into unsavory charlatans? OK, you didn't say all that.. BUT you implied all that! Your honor, I rest my case. (Oh, what were we talking about?)

But you do say "......no longer the icons we remember them as." So the question is, were these guys really icons or why would we think that? And they became less icons and more charlatans after they started cranking out bikes? When they had less of their own hand and skills involved and became managers up in the office? Is that the answer we are seeking?

Inquiring minds have no way of knowing! Ha!

Dale

Dale Brown
Greensboro, NC