Re: [CR] Restorations

(Example: Production Builders:Tonard)

From: <"kohl57@starpower.net">
To: hetchinspete1@yahoo.com, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: Re: [CR] Restorations
Date: Mon, 29 Nov 2004 10:49:42 -0500


Original Message: ----------------- From: Peter Naiman hetchinspete1@yahoo.com Date: Mon, 29 Nov 2004 07:33:46 -0800 (PST) To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: Re: [CR] Restorations

"Peter; I'll disagree a bit with you.

I've a very beautiful, rare 1938 Hetchins Anglo Continental Special, full chrome and only one of two known. It came to me through Hilary as he had retrieved it from storage I assume. The bike was purchased by the original owner in "38" and updated with newer componants in about 1951. He past away in the early 60s and the bike sat in storage until it surfaced through Hilary on Ebay. From my perspective, by my taking off the componants from the 50s and installing period correct componants, I'm losing some of the history of this bike.

Peter Naiman Shorewood, WI"

No... not disgreement just the personal preference vs. practice I mentioned! I agree absolutely to do so in this case and others would lose the history of the machine if not much of its character. Hence I try to "save" such bikes from my personal preferences by... not buying them! So many of the really fine frames from England "suffer" from this (and suffer is a wonderfully loaded word!!): these frames still hold their own against anything made today so they were worth updating with the best and latest in components during their long and well-loved lives. It just adds the character of the owner and the changing eras to the machine. That's great. Just not what I like so maybe the best "restoration" in this case is for me to not acquire it. But, again, if I find at the tip next to the "off to the compactor" pile.... I'd still do better for all by saving it.

By the way, this mindset is a handy way to justify not buying a LOT of fine bikes. Much more reliable than that nonsense about "too many bikes and not enough room".

Peter Kohler Washington DC USA

--------------------------------------------------------------------
mail2web - Check your email from the web at
http://mail2web.com/ .