[CR]Best British Bikes 35/54...a coffee table tome?

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Date: Sun, 13 Mar 2005 07:08:00 -0800 (PST)
From: "Peter Jourdain" <pjourdain@yahoo.com>
Subject: [CR]Best British Bikes 35/54...a coffee table tome?
To: Toni Theilmeier <toni.theilmeier@t-online.de>, kohl57@starpower.net, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org


Sounds great, Toni. I agree with your timeline. Of course it would require a MASSIVE effort, many contacts, and not a few Pounds Sterling, akin to the task which Jan Heine recently described on the CR List on Feb. 24 regarding his forthcoming book, THE GOLDEN AGE OF HANDBUILT BICYCLES. The cooperation of the VCC, folks like Hilary Stone, Mick Butler, Peter Paine and others, would be monumentally important.

Of crucial importance would be ensuring the QUALITY of the photos and illustrations, the accuracy of information, and the style and verve of the writing. Anyone like me can snap a photo of a bike, but a book of the type I am imagining requires the utmost quality that only a professional or EXTREMELY accomplished amateur photographer can deliver. Publication of such books require certain standards both in terms of style, lighting, and, for want of a more universal term, pixel count. Most of the digital photos that people have, nice as they may be, would not reproduce well in a full-color glossy book. This would be a "start from scratch" enterprise.

I’m sure there would be no shortage of willing contributors. That would be both boon and burden. Managing all those well-meaning egos would require the wisdom of Solomon and the patience of Job, and a rapier-like pen which, despite all personal kinship, can with sound judgment slash through unworthy text and say to friend and stranger alike, “It’s not there yet.” Cooperation of the many is essential, but it must be kept in mind that books by committee are apt to end up either incomplete or in chaos. The project needs many hands but only one or two strong personalities around whom others can rally, someone who can persevere in what is sure to be a very long pull.

I am not trying to be discouraging. Quite the contrary. Simply hopefully, dedicatedly realistic. It is a MOST WORTHY venture. Already I have received some helpful contacts from list contributors. These perhaps represent mere baby steps, but steps nonetheless. And I am certainly not appointing myself as clearinghouse for this enterprise. There are MANY more qualified by experience and situation for that role. But I would like to facilitate where I can, help where I may, and serve as one of many cheerleaders, handing off the ball to those better able to carry it.

So by all means, let the wheels not only start spinning, but actually coursing over ground and moving forward. What GIANT is out there willing to lead the ride?

Peter Jourdain Whitewater, Wisconsin

Toni Theilmeier wrote:

Well, lads, so let´s get this thing off the ground, then. This has been a dream of mine for the best part of two decades. Just a matter of collecting as many photos, catalogues and old people´s tales (Mick Butler, are you listening? :-) as possible, verifying and editing. Matter of three or four years, I guess. I´ve just finished my latest project, and I have a lot of experience in writing stuff that no publisher will ever touch, so there we go.

Who´ll join the fun?

Regards,

Toni Theilmeier, Belm, Germany.

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