Norris,
I can only empathize wth your dilemna as I have for quite some time. Struggling with health and unemployment in recent years has put a serious crimp in my ability to afford bikes of desire, so to buy one my strict rule is to sell off one or two before I purchase another. I've been fortunate to own some of the rarest of Hetchins over the years including a rare Magnum Opus Phase One, a few show bikes and prototypes. Now that I'm hopefully back to work I'm struggling with the want to buy and it's hard to hold back, so to do so I'm selling off cycles with the objective of completing project and slimming down the collection. I've also found that keeping draws full of parts doesn't accomplish anything except taking up space, so early last year I pretty much cleaned out the draws of about 90% of unused componants and put the funds back into the bank. Now I try to either buy a complete unrestored cycle or I wait until I have a frame to work on and purchase parts as needed. I'm never in a hurry to restore, so if it takes a full year or more to complete a full restoration, so be it.
As for limiting the collection I decided years ago to limit myself to 15 to 20 bikes all told and to dedicate the collection only to Hetchins because at one time my collection hovered around 25+ with no objective as to what to collect. Everytime another bike that looked appealing came up it became an obsession that I had to have it. So to keep myself in check for financial reasons etc, I started only collecting Hetchins in my size preferably between the pre-war period to about 1968. The trouble is now that I'm once again wanting to cut down the problem is which to let go.
I did purchase the La Perle from overseas recently, but once it gets here it will most likely make it to cleaning, possibly to the CR weekend in May, but be sold to make room for another Hetchins.
As for wall hangars, most of my Hetchins are, but I'm taking a new approach in building any new frames up to be rideable. I've two 1950/60s frames to restore including the long lost Experto Crede Deluxe at Franklin Frames. Most of the bike will be built up with period correct componants, but the drivetrain will mostly be later period TA & Campy. Also to keep the collection affordable some of the earliest Pre-war frames may never be built up and remain wall hangars for display only.
Best regards to all and a belated Happy New Years to the group. Peter ~~~~~
Peter W. Naiman Owner: Cream City Online. Registered Ebay Sales Broker/ Trading Assistant Glendale, WI USA 53217-5034 Phone: 414-429-4362
From: Norris Lockley <nlockley73@gmail.com> Subject: [CR] To buy ..or not to buy...That is the question To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Date: Sunday, January 9, 2011, 4:52 AM
I'm faced with a dilemma...let me explain. I already have far too many bicycles and frames..and Yes! believe me.... it is possible to have too many . (Are you reading this, Nelson?) I am no longer a young man..and many of the frames and bikes I already own are too large for me in any case...and my wife can't stand the thought of any more bikes at home. I am in fact a perfect living example of the species - the obsessive collector.
To make matters worse, there are certain brands of frame that I have never owned, will never need, but nevertheless I would like one of them...for the collection.
Like buses in most large cities these sought-after bikes never come in ones...but in twos and threes. And so it is that I have just come across, and am negotiating for, a couple of MARCADIER racing, as opposed to randonneur, bicycles...and there is still an alloy Reyhand (?) in mind.
I have never seen a Marcadier but, tempted by the one in one of Jan Heine's books, consider that I owe myself at least one. Jan's Marcadier is an aluminium alloy one and at least one of the two I know of is of the same material...the other might be steel, as it is painted red.
It goes with the territory of such transactions that the bikes are a long way from where I live, not even in the same country, and that the photos provided are of poor quality and lack detailo. I have requested others.Oh! almost forgot...they are too large ( at about 23") for me to ride..
After finishing this heart-felt appeal to the CR Listers I think I shall have to go and lie down to consider matters further. Are there any psychologists among the CR members who could offer me some free counselling....PLEASE
I know what I should do...but please convince me.
Norris Lockley
Settle UK
(with sincere apoogies to the bard, William Shakespeare..and Prince Hamlet)