i 'build' my frames. brian 'builds' AND paints his frames. others in the states do similarly. fwiw, when i was new to all this, i wanted so much to believe that this was the case overseas as well because all my role models were there. but by 1979 while in italy for trip #1, i was astonished by the CONTRAST between what i expected (and what brian, myself, and others here do...), that all i can say is the only similarity is that the end-product is a bicycle frame. 'their' approach to the manufacture of it, the methodology of it all, the tassk assignments, the focus of each/every operation, etcetera, as well as the notion that the product is (possibly) sullied because it was subbed out or similar...everything about what and how they do what they do is nearly 180 degrees from what i (then) expected and what (i suspect) folks still expect was the case. four-plus trips to italy later and countless years have served to reinforce these feelings rather than suppress them. one method is certainly no better than the other. but there are at least two paths to take. e-RICHIE Richard Sachs Cycles No.9, North Main Street Chester, CT 06412 USA http://www.richardsachs.com Tel. 860.526.2059
On Wed, 6 Nov 2002 12:54:27 EST DTSHIFTER@aol.com writes:
> Richard,
>
> In a message dated 11/6/02 12:18:21 PM, richardsachs@juno.com
> writes:
>
> << what we call 'building'
> and what they call 'building' are, more often than not, two
> different animals. >>
>
> Would you care to elaborate on this? Sounds culturally
> interesting!??!
>
> Thanks,
>
> Chuck Brooks
> Malta (snowed last night!) NY