Don,
I'd find it surprising if movie footage of any major builder existed in our CR timeline (besides the one mentioned). Videos were waiting to be invented and 8mm home movie cameras weren't common. Actually I'd be surprised if any still pictures were available either. I went to visit the Taylor brothers when I was learning to build frames at Ellis Briggs in 1975. Stockton-on-Tees is still a bit further north from the Leeds/Bradford area where I was located and was a bit of a drive in my '50's Morris Minor. They were gracious is visiting with me and Norman spent the afternoon showing me how he did things. At the time I was most amazed with his plywood fixture with pencil drawing to position where the frame blocks would just rest (not attached, just sitting on top of the plywood). At Briggs, we had this really nice cast iron surface plate jig and I wasn't prepared to see something a home builder might use. I asked how he aligned his frames and got instructions on having a "good eye". I think he also used a straight edge off the bb shell but maybe my memory is adding that to help preserve their reputation in my mind.
I'm struggling to remember if I took pictures that day. If I did, I must have had slide film in my Leica M2 with it's 50 mm pull out lens. I tried to have print film in the camera when I visited other British builders but sometimes I wanted slides for scenery shots and that roll wasn't finished. Stuff gets put away and moved and ends up who knows where. I'll have to look. The Taylor brothers aren't in my print box.
My point, which I am meandering too, is that the old master builders that I visited in England and Italy in the 70's were somewhat reluctant to show me what they did, much less let me take pictures. Most allowed me to because I was an American builder and not competitive to their sales. My guess for this reluctance is that there were ways they did things (like Norman's plywood fixture) that wouldn't enhance their reputation with either other competitors or potential customers. I'm also guessing that what pictures their are, are of smiling customers with the builders getting a new frame. I don't remember any of my customers taking pictures of me while I work.
Does anyone besides myself have pictures of old master builders working or even of the shop they worked in? I'd love to see them.
Doug Fattic, wondering where all his pictures are in Niles, Michigan
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 20:50:35 -0700 (PDT) From: Don Wilson <dcwilson3@yahoo.com>
Joel eloquently described Norman's handling of the torch in fillet brazing, which Norman did for 60 years! It made me wonder: are there any films of Norman brazing? And wouldn't it be neat to get a collection of footage of major builders handling the torch?
Don Wilson
Los Olivos, CA USA