bobcycles
Riding a '38 Autocycle Deluxe
Tho I've never been a fan of reproducing rare parts for bicycles, the reproduction of badges is
probably the lowest rung of the repop realm. Now we have foreign manufacturers making vintage American bicycle badges in
Indonesia?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-Fly...947?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1a02bef9eb
There are two major issues with reproduction badges that I see.
1 as we find out thanks to sites like Ebay, Image Saturation. Badges that were were once extremely rare and sought after, become mundane
visual images seen daily on sites like ebay as the reproduction badges become as available a common commodity as something like an Electra bicycle or 'GT' tire, etc.
We almost become imune to these once extremely rare plates as this 'image saturation' becomes common place.
2 the process of making these badges has become so 'exacting' that as with other 'too good' copies or forgeries...the line will and even
Does get 'blurred' as the items change hands from one buyer to the next. An artificially aged repop badge could very well screw someone
down the road, even unintentionally. It's unfortunate that the original manufacturers aren't around today and can't take legal action against
the reproduction of these iconic antique collectible artifacts.
.............The value of originals is also greatly diminished by the mass production of the cheaper copies. There were several very rare Schwinn badges
for instance that at one time commanded very high prices and maintained high investment value. Now that the repros of these badges are available
the value of the originals from what I have seen has been slashed to roughly 1/2.
Who condones this?
probably the lowest rung of the repop realm. Now we have foreign manufacturers making vintage American bicycle badges in
Indonesia?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-Fly...947?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1a02bef9eb
There are two major issues with reproduction badges that I see.
1 as we find out thanks to sites like Ebay, Image Saturation. Badges that were were once extremely rare and sought after, become mundane
visual images seen daily on sites like ebay as the reproduction badges become as available a common commodity as something like an Electra bicycle or 'GT' tire, etc.
We almost become imune to these once extremely rare plates as this 'image saturation' becomes common place.
2 the process of making these badges has become so 'exacting' that as with other 'too good' copies or forgeries...the line will and even
Does get 'blurred' as the items change hands from one buyer to the next. An artificially aged repop badge could very well screw someone
down the road, even unintentionally. It's unfortunate that the original manufacturers aren't around today and can't take legal action against
the reproduction of these iconic antique collectible artifacts.
.............The value of originals is also greatly diminished by the mass production of the cheaper copies. There were several very rare Schwinn badges
for instance that at one time commanded very high prices and maintained high investment value. Now that the repros of these badges are available
the value of the originals from what I have seen has been slashed to roughly 1/2.
Who condones this?
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