I think that the "someone" who wrote that comment (i.e. me) was trying to _defend_ the French bicycles. I really can't speak about the bikes in Jan's book. All I can say is that the few original condition Herse and Singer bikes I've actually examined had small blemishes that could not be seen from a distance of 3 feet (1 meter) but which could be seen on close inspection. But the overall beauty and quality of the bicycles was of a high level.
For example, although I have only seen photos of the Japanese copies of the French randonneur bikes, my impression is that these copies achieve a level of near-perfection in their finish that the originals never achieved.
If I'm wrong, it's only because I haven't seen them all...
Best regards,
Fred Rednor - Arlington, Virginia (USA)
> someone wrote:
>
> I'm so glad Peter brought that up. The French builders -
> even
> the expensive ones - seem not to expect their frames to be
> inspected from a distance of 2 inches (50mm). Their
> aesthetic
> appears to be based on having the bike look pleasing from a
> distance of a few feet.
>
> ****
>
> Not true. The best constructeur bikes (Herse, Singer,
> name-a-few-others... the top Routens, or Hurtu come
> to mind) made a 60s PX 10 look like what it is:
> a production frame slapped together in a very big
> hurry.
>
> Don't believe me? Go look at a lugged Herse from the
> 50s in original paint. In particular the sort of bike
> you can see in Jan Heine's new book. A fully tricked-out
> Herse radonneur bike is as good as it gets, in terms of
> fit, finish, workmanship and sheer beauty. Lower line
> french production bikes of the same
> period don't even come close.
>
> Although, that said I've always had a liking for those
> 50s PX10s in blue with the yellow lugs. Up close they're
> still awfully crude. But cool, nonetheless.
>
> An Herse though...completely different sort of thing. Looks
> good from an inch away.
>
> Charles "nearly ruined my copy of Jan's book by
> drooling all over it" Andrews
> SoCal
>
> _______________________________________________
>
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