Hi everyone!
I've been a member of this list for some time, but haven't done an introduction until now. My name is Tom Davis and I live in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. I started working with bikes in 1972. My first job was with Ken Wallace (of Bisbee Bicycle Brothel fame) in a little shop in Wilmington, NC. It was just the two of us and we had a pretty good time. Ken taught me a lot; not only about the technical side of things, but also about the mystique of the fine, hand-built machine. McLean Fonville was a frequent visitor, as Wilmington was his home town. McLean taught me how to build wheels and a lot of other things; but what impressed me the most was his philosophy that if you're not going to do something as well as it can be done then why do it at all. Everyone who knew him is aware of the beauty of his work.
When I was racing in the early seventies, my iron was a Fuji Newest, which had just been introduced; but my pride and joy was my time trial bike. Almost every part on it (except the Cinelli M71 pedals and the Hi-E rims) was modified to reduce weight. And all of this was on a beautiful Witcomb, USA 531 steel frame. It was the first lugless frame that Peter Weigle built and the artistry was obvious even when he was just getting started. Oh, yeah. seventeen pounds total. Wish I still had it.
In 1974 or '75 I went to the International Bike Show in New York and while there saw a display of components that had been drilled out. They were beautiful. I immediately signed up for a machinist course at the local technical college and got my certification in industrial machine operations. Talk about something that will make you a better mechanic - that was it! I went to Sears and bought a drill press and started my own business. Ken thought up a name for it and "Perfect Perforations" was born.
I did quite a bit of work, but the popularity of drilling holes in parts
waned. I've had several jobs since then - bike shop owner, big bike chain
store manager, payroll timekeeper (ugh) - and it wasn't until I came across
this list that I realized there might be a market for customizing parts
again. I've done a lot of research, bought a lot of new equipment, and I'm
pleased to announce that Perfect Perforations is back in business; and I'm
doing a lot more than just drilling holes this time. I hope you will all
take a moment to check my web site, http://www.perfectperforations.com/
So, take a look and let me know what you think. My understanding is that I only get to do a "commercial" one time in Classic Rendezvous, so if you have any questions relating to my services please e-mail me at <mailto:tom@perfectperforations.com> tom@perfectperforations.com. I look forward to hearing from you.
Also, Dale Brown has been kind enough to ask me to be a speaker at his upcoming "Classic Rendezvous Weekend" being held this May in Greensboro, NC, and I'm hoping to meet some of you there. To me, this is quite an honor; especially based on the caliper of speakers at last year's Cirque du Cyclisme. I'd be interested in knowing what you'd like to hear me talk about, as I'll only have a limited amount of time.
Thanks!
Tom Davis
Chapel Hill, NC, USA