[CR]Keepers of the Flame

(Example: Framebuilders:Doug Fattic)

From: <OROBOYZ@aol.com>
Date: Sun, 9 Feb 2003 20:40:54 EST
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]Keepers of the Flame

In a message dated 2/9/2003 7:08:16 PM Eastern Standard Time, Jon3084@aol.com writes:

<< is the flame we so cherish really only just a part of our hobby and not a part of the original business model for the small builders some of us may idolize? >>

I think there are plenty examples of Luigi making the bikes themselves. Sure there are workshops where the guy sits in the front office, like Hetchins, Claud Butler, Bob Jackson, later Masi & Colnago, DeRosa, Eddy Merckx, etc.

But there are also craftsmen who had their hands in it (especially in their early days) like Bill Hurlow, Routens, Rene Herse, Albert Eisentraut, Pop Brennan, Harry Quinn, HR Morris, Les Ephgrave, Silvano Grandis, Francesco Galmozzi, Irio Tommasini, Sante Pogliaghi, etc.

In fact, like modern Keepers of the Flame builders (the guys on this list), the most valued bikes by people with a refined sensibility and knowledge of the tradition will be those actually made by the guy/gal whose name is on the downtube....

Dale Brown
Greensboro, North Carolina