Garth, I appreciate your points regarding bicycles but can immediately think of at least one other parallel. Hand made or "bespoke" shotguns are very similar to hand made bicycles in that there is an inherit simplicity and almost elemental combining of man with machine. Your descriptions of the processes of refinement and minimalization apply here just as well. As with bicycles there are many examples of mass produced shotguns which are very well made, some even with extensive engraving which is well executed albeit done by machine. But it's never quite the same as the examples which are made by hand by true craftsmen. To do this by hand takes great skill and an incredible amount of time. When I say skill I refer not only to the competence to correctly make something that works properly, but an understanding of the finer points of how the piece handles/points relating to the weight and balance; as well as how to make a shotgun that operates as simply, effectively and reliably as possible. As with custom bike frame builders, there are some who appreciate the embellishments and the artistry of the fine engraving on some guns which is often just amazing. All this comes at a price. There are shotguns that work perfectly well that are very affordable but to acquire a hand made example from an acknowledged master is expensive and that's how it should be. They are rare and you are paying for the expertise and all the very extensive labor. Just as there are people who are willing to wait several years for a custom bike frame, if you want a custom shotgun you will also need to wait a similar amount of time. Obviously not everyone wants or needs an expensive frame, and not everyone who would like one can afford one. The point however is to recognize and appreciate the guys who have the ability to produce these masterpieces and to support them whether it be by purchasing examples of their work or simply helping to market what they are doing by spreading the word. Many of these builders started out with creative energy to make frames which were something special but the business realities and apparent lack of support can take their toll. If some of these guys get fed up enough and throw in the torch to some extent it will partially be our fault and in the last analysis we are the losers. Fine items made by hand by true craftsmen, whether they be bicycle frames, shotguns, furniture or other items are becoming harder to find all the time and they are no doubt expensive. Economics play a part. These artisans are entitled to earn a living and to be fairly compensated for the countless hours they spend on a project. Machine made/mass produced items are more affordable and often work perfectly well. The concept here is that it is worth supporting individuals who have the ability and are willing to take the time to make something unique which reflects their ideas and personality. For me anyway there is value in that which is worth trying to preserve. Clothing or other luxury goods which have artificially contrived high prices/profit margins are completely different. Yes custom frames (or shotguns) are expensive but you don't see the guys making these items getting rich unlike the purveyors of luxury clothing, fragrances, jewelry, etc.
Edward Robert Brooks Managing Director Edward Roberts International Auctioneers of the Fine and Rare 1262 West Winwood Drive Lake Forest, Illinois 60045 Phone- 847.295.8696 Facsimile- 847.295.8697 Email- ebrooks@eriwine.com Website- http://www.eriwine.com -----Original Message----- From: classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org [mailto:classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org] On Behalf Of Bianca Pratorius Sent: Saturday, March 11, 2006 5:14 AM To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: [CR]Don Wilson's call for exclusivity and outrageous prix fix
There is a difference between hand made bicycles and all other high end items. The bicycle was and is the most minimalist of machines, designed for the one thing that has always facinated human kind since the beginning of human time. From the time that humans first found themselves on this earth there was the need and the desire to move around a little faster, always a little faster. How can I travel from one village to another in less time? How can I reach out across the earth and see a little more of it? The bicycle is somewhat on par with the shoe in that it seeks to make the process of speed possible with the least effort and the least baggage. The bicycle is always in the process of refinement, of minimalization, of paring away what is superfluous. The process of eliminating what is not needed is art. The art of less is more, is at once a discipline, a religion and a device for the common man. We can never tear away the root of what something is just to make it a plaything for the idle rich. The bicycle stands as a machine on par with the knife, the shoe, and the loincloth. No matter how perfectly the lugs are brazed and filed, the bicycle will always be the tool of the common man.
As far as I can see, the price of the finest bicycle has always stood in proportion to what it cost to manufacture it, plus either a minimal profit or a healthy profit. A 3 speed Rudge commanded a minimal profit, and a Colnago commanded a healthy one. The bicycle should never command an other worldly profit, even if the spirit that makes it has its roots in the most Godly aspirations that man is capable of.
Garth Libre in Miami Fl.