[CR]Re: Everyone liked the orange Eisentraut but this black one? And about Barilla?

(Example: Racing:Beryl Burton)

From: <OROBOYZ@aol.com>
Date: Sat, 11 Jun 2005 22:33:32 EDT
To: rena.cutrufelli@comcast.net, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]Re: Everyone liked the orange Eisentraut but this black one? And about Barilla?

In a message dated 6/11/2005 7:03:46 PM Eastern Daylight Time, rena.cutrufelli@comcast.net writes:

<< Everyone liked the orange Eisentraut but this black one, apparently in better (paint at least) condition and nearly the same year gets no respect or even was worthy of mention.Why?

Dale I don't get it. I've only seen one Eisentraut. (Both the orange and the black are beautiful to me)>>

Mark: It's certainly not a lack of respect (on my part at least) but you are comparing the two door sedan to the deluxe convertible (or some other similarly weak metaphor.) It's like the Hetchins plain lug basic model versus the Magnum Opus... Or the Sports Tourer vs the Paramount... or...? (You guys supply the next comparison.)

The Limited was a very nice, made-to-a-price model. The A model was a no-holds-barred (almost) top of the line jobber. Now please realize this discussion has nothing to do with condition or equipment on these particular bikes, we are talking frame craft here.

If one is to evaluate, understand, appreciate and value hand crafted bicycles, one needs to give the bulk of the points to refinement, effort, finesse, to evidence that the EYE of the craftsperson allowed he/she to adapt stock and/or special parts to be something that would standout from the routine and unimaginative. Eisentraut's bike frames, at their best (i.e., the best examples), have a very distinctive sculptural quality, a lot of filing and thinning and shaping. Huge care is taken in a lug profile and making an elegant line. Bruce Gordon has a bit of Eisentraut's style (plus his own). That Limited is a very nice bike but for the most part it is what I call "plugged together." Very competently made but without those touches, that style, that statement of the craftsman's hand that great bike frames have.

The above is why people seek out the builders on this list. (E-Richie too; he is reading frequently, but inactive.) That's why some folks find production bikes boring. Most probably chimpanzees could have been trained to make some of the bike boom lugged frames from the famous brands (Raleigh, Motobecane, Peugeot, etc.,etc.)

There are also "custom frames" in which the builder takes high quality parts, those any of us could buy, "Plugs the frame together", has a great paint job applied, and produces a great riding, handmade, boutique brand, boring frame!

And then we get to debate all this here! What fun!

Dale Brown
Greensboro, NC USA