I suspect that frame builders build according to what is wanted (pretty obvious I guess). For example I would not consider my 60s Pogliaghi track bike as beautifully finished, however this bike was intended to be used by someone who was going to use it as a tool to make a living with. It is adequately built for the job - just the finish is not as polished as my 70s Cinelli SC. The Cinelli was built with finish as an important consideration as people likely to buy that type of bike wanted something that looked pretty and rode well - aimed more at the consumer market where there is a lot of competition. My somewhat uneducated take.
Mike Short, Austin TX
On Fri, 9 Apr 2004 10:32:34 EDT OROBOYZ@aol.com writes:
> In a message dated 4/8/2004 7:08:09 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
> richardsachs@juno.com writes:
>
> << this is a reallllllly grey area; these businesses didn't "bill".
> there were no brochures with "copy" and superlatives. no
> ads and marketing to speak of. all the hype was generated
> by the journalists and, in turn, by consumers. >>
>
> I think "live up to their billing" is pretty on target here. This
> was meant
> as used in show business, a broad ranging presentation of "the
> product" in an
> elaborate public relations campaign.
>
> These businesses (mostly men with big talents and even bigger egos)
> tirelessly engaged in promotion of themselves that was broad based
> and often
> hyperbolic.
>
> I have (and I bet you have too) had personal communications with the
>
> aforementioned "master builders" and they were very quick to claim
> that their products
> were the absolute best in every possible way. Plenty of hype
> straight from
> the horses mouth! Although I DO think that the best from the master
> builders
> produced wonderfully refined and artful bicycles, the sheer
> arrogance and conceit
> of the builders was always an amazing thing to witness.
>
> The fact is, the whole marketing (another sheer business term)
> effort by the
> "CEO" of these companies revolves around the assertion, either
> directly or
> subtly, of absolute excellence in performance and craft.
>
> Rather than produce bombastic brochures and ad copy (although the
> latter does
> exist in many double spread page ads in BiciSport), these marketing
> campaigns
> took the usual marketing philosophy for high end product by
> sponsoring
> conspicuous teams and riders, elaborate trade show displays, deluxe
> fittings and
> high prices. Masi has never been a company with a lot of advertising
> dollars but
> DeRosa in particular has spent amazing sums in BS ads. Etc., etc.
>
> I agree the press and consumers have participate eagerly with this
> building
> of image but there is no question where it all starts, in the
> ambition of the
> heads of these companies! That is, Ugo, Faleiro, Cino, Alberto,
> Irio,
> Ernesto.... Those "humble lads upon whom fame has been forced by
> adoring fans."
>
> Dale
>
> Dale Brown
> Greensboro, NC
> _______________________________________________
>
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