Doug, had the pleasure of meeting you at Cirque last year. I pondered your question for a moment and the thought came to me. Why bombard any builder with questions in the attempt to gain knowledge and facts. To me that is to Barbara Walter-ish.
I had the luck and pleasure of visiting two builders over the summer. Richard Sachs and Peter Weigle and I learned a lot when they were just allowed to be themselves and speak about their craft. The history of their beginnings and voyage through their careers seemed a bit more realistic then responses to a scripted format. I was captivated to hear Mr. Sachs describe how he got the bug to be a bike mechanic and how that transformed into a builder by fate and circumstanc. Mr. Weigle also captured my attention with his telling of the story of his illusive Ferrari bicycle. I would much rather hear the stories unforced and natural then a response to what their favorite color is or what TV program they enjoy. I read one such bicycle builders interview recently and no matter how they tried it came off sounding like the responses from the Miss America contest.
I know this is not exactly an answer to your question but if a way could be found to capture the interview from the builders perspective allowing them to self interview if you will, I think it would make for a much better read for future generations. Present company included of course.
Ray Homiski
Elizabeth, NJ