I understand the time usage and how it can be a black hole compared to revenue generating activities. Perhaps adding some simple automation in terms of a database would be useful.
Tom Anderson Guitars has a super nifty serial number search function on their webpage. You enter the serial number and it gives you all the build informaton for the guitar plus who was the original dealer. The work is getting the information into the database to start with and take it from there. Not very retro grouch but a good way to preserve information for the future.
http://www.andersonguitars.com/
Gary Watts Vancouver, WA USA
-----Original Message----- From: classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org [mailto:classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org] On Behalf Of Bob Freitas Sent: Wednesday, December 20, 2006 4:28 AM To: Tom Sanders; CLASSIC RENDEZVOUS Subject: [CR]Asking for information from Bruce and other builders
Think about it, these guys make 0 money when you buy a used bike no matter what.You could say it would be good PR to give those kinds of answers but after many years of frame building its probably buried away some where. I called Eisentraut about a bike I have and he spent 30 minutes
talking about all sorts of stuff but wanted $125 hr to research the bike. He also said he received many calls on the same bikes as only a few bikes went hand to hand and they were always the same ones he was called about. He said a few general things about the person the bike was built for (Mike Schwering) but couldn't give specifics as to tubes used. Remember for us its a hobby (most of us anyway) for them its a
living .When you are at work ,how much are you willing to do for free?
BOB FREITAS
artic like MILL VALLEY, CA thats USA