In a message dated 8/8/05 1:11:37 PM, thomasthomasa@yahoo.com writes:
>
> So for what percentage of your collection can you put a name to the
> builder?
>
>
>
>
Maybe half? I've got a '68 Special, I couldn't tell you for sure who built
it. I've got a Carlsbad twin plate, #289 that I don't know who brazed, but I believe Brian did some filing on. Then there's the '88 Gran Crit that Joe Starck built and Jim Allen painted. And a '93 Gran Corsa built by Bilatto that I don't have a clue about, except that Jim Allen did the paint.
> So how does knowing who built the frame affect it's desirablility? Do
> frames made by small shops where you can ID the workman have any additiona
l
> cachet? Naturally, a one man operations isn't going to have the Palma
res of any
> of the big boys. But perhaps they add something in animism of the mac
hine.
> Which is more desirable?
>
>
Certainly most folks would feel that the romantic image of the lone frameb uilder working into the night in his tiny shop has more appeal than that of a tattooed punk standing at a carousel, aiming his torch at frame after frame until the whistle blows and he can go hit the bars.
On the other hand, I feel it is important not to dismiss a product out of hand merely because it is the product of a collective effort. There are an y number of cooperative efforts that are worthy of admiration and study, from a piece of music by a string quartet to NASA's Eagle landing on the moon. In each case and in many cases between those extremes, I enjoy knowing a bit more about the folks involved. Put it this way, if you were to see a documentar y about Stradivarius that examined his life, his instruments, his apprentice s if he had any, and a bit about the history of the period and the locale in whic h he worked, it would not change in any way the sound of the music produced by
one of his intruments. It might not even change your perception of the mus ic produced by one of his instruments. But I can't help but believe it WOULD affect your appreciation for the instrument itself should you ever have the opportunity to hold one in your hands.
Bob Hovey
Columbus, GA