Peter,
A lovely machine indeed, and I have been following this thread silently and with some interest for the past couple of days.
I've wondered about the fixation that some folks have with certain brands (not all French of course, some Italian and one or two UK) and their willingness to part with excessive loads of cold hard cash. But it's their money so what the hey...
For example, here we have your $225 wonder:- http://tinyurl.com/
Compare this to a Herse currently on fleabay at a v.high price already... see item 360122545584
Ok-ish but actually not outstanding IMHO and I know which one I'd be buying in a blind straight fight with no price tag or decals attached.
If I'm honest I have my own blindspot/s - so for instance I'm still waiting for that curly Hetchins to come along that I can afford - credit crunch an' all notwithstanding... but Claud Butler, Bob Jackson,?Lomas, Woodrup, Ellis Briggs, Major Nicholls et al will do for now...
Ian Briggs, Luton, Bedfordshire, UK