Interview with Richard Schwinn/why he closed Waterford
#26
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: PDX
Posts: 13,504
Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2
Liked 6,810 Times
in
3,892 Posts
I strongly believe Richard and Co. did an amazing job.
Cranked out a fantastic amount of great work.
Payed what it should have paid for getting it done.
Despite his commentary to the contrary, furthered a storied legacy that very much still deserved to be and made his own indelible mark as well.
Many, many have failed miserably in this kind of endeavor, Richard will not have been one of them.
I applaud him and am very glad he stayed the course.
Cranked out a fantastic amount of great work.
Payed what it should have paid for getting it done.
Despite his commentary to the contrary, furthered a storied legacy that very much still deserved to be and made his own indelible mark as well.
Many, many have failed miserably in this kind of endeavor, Richard will not have been one of them.
I applaud him and am very glad he stayed the course.
Likes For merziac:
#27
Port
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Boston
Posts: 6,844
Bikes: 2022 Soma Fog Cutter, 2021 Calfee Draqonfly 44, 1984 Peter Mooney, 2017 Soma Stanyan, 1990 Fuji Ace, 1990 Bridgestone RB-1, 1995 Independent Fabrications Track, 2003 Calfee Dragonfly Pro
Liked 2,220 Times
in
1,209 Posts
"Gravitationally attractive"
__________________
https://rowdml.tripod.com/panmass
https://rowdml.tripod.com/panmass
Likes For Rocket-Sauce:
#28
Senior Member
Assuming an average birth date on this forum of ~1950-60, the graduation rates for that generation were ~13% for high school and ~65% for college. Today the rates are ~38% and ~91% respectively. The younger generation is smarter and more diligent than ever.
There are also more custom framebuilders currently than in the history of this country. So let's not attribute Waterford's closing to the work ethic of the current generation.
Likes For TenGrainBread:
#29
feros ferio
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: www.ci.encinitas.ca.us
Posts: 21,975
Bikes: 1959 Capo Modell Campagnolo; 1960 Capo Sieger (2); 1962 Carlton Franco Suisse; 1970 Peugeot UO-8; 1982 Bianchi Campione d'Italia; 1988 Schwinn Project KOM-10;
Liked 1,472 Times
in
912 Posts
Sounds like the same "back in my day" ramblings said by every generation of their successor, with no data or real evidence to back it up. Many hardworking and curious young people out there wouldn't appreciate your blanket statement.
Assuming an average birth date on this forum of ~1950-60, the graduation rates for that generation were ~13% for high school and ~65% for college. Today the rates are ~38% and ~91% respectively. The younger generation is smarter and more diligent than ever.
There are also more custom framebuilders currently than in the history of this country. So let's not attribute Waterford's closing to the work ethic of the current generation.
Assuming an average birth date on this forum of ~1950-60, the graduation rates for that generation were ~13% for high school and ~65% for college. Today the rates are ~38% and ~91% respectively. The younger generation is smarter and more diligent than ever.
There are also more custom framebuilders currently than in the history of this country. So let's not attribute Waterford's closing to the work ethic of the current generation.
__________________
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
Likes For John E:
#30
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: PDX
Posts: 13,504
Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2
Liked 6,810 Times
in
3,892 Posts
Sounds like the same "back in my day" ramblings said by every generation of their successor, with no data or real evidence to back it up. Many hardworking and curious young people out there wouldn't appreciate your blanket statement.
Assuming an average birth date on this forum of ~1950-60, the graduation rates for that generation were ~13% for high school and ~65% for college. Today the rates are ~38% and ~91% respectively. The younger generation is smarter and more diligent than ever.
There are also more custom framebuilders currently than in the history of this country. So let's not attribute Waterford's closing to the work ethic of the current generation.
Assuming an average birth date on this forum of ~1950-60, the graduation rates for that generation were ~13% for high school and ~65% for college. Today the rates are ~38% and ~91% respectively. The younger generation is smarter and more diligent than ever.
There are also more custom framebuilders currently than in the history of this country. So let's not attribute Waterford's closing to the work ethic of the current generation.
After 10 years working in Environmental services at a major hospital and 25 years before that as an ASE and fomoco Senior Master technician and having trained and watched plenty of onboarding that many don't truly want to dig in and learn the harder more challenging aspects of either vocation.
I will say this is not exclusive to the younger generations but it seems to be more prevalent with them now days and increasing.
The hard part of any job is the most important as it is the part that solves the challenge.
#31
Senior Member
Yeah, I know its a broken record type of statement and I really only have my own experience to go on.
After 10 years working in Environmental services at a major hospital and 25 years before that as an ASE and fomoco Senior Master technician and having trained and watched plenty of onboarding that many don't truly want to dig in and learn the harder more challenging aspects of either vocation.
I will say this is not exclusive to the younger generations but it seems to be more prevalent with them now days and increasing.
The hard part of any job is the most important as it is the part that solves the challenge.
After 10 years working in Environmental services at a major hospital and 25 years before that as an ASE and fomoco Senior Master technician and having trained and watched plenty of onboarding that many don't truly want to dig in and learn the harder more challenging aspects of either vocation.
I will say this is not exclusive to the younger generations but it seems to be more prevalent with them now days and increasing.
The hard part of any job is the most important as it is the part that solves the challenge.
#32
Senior Member
Sounds like the same "back in my day" ramblings said by every generation of their successor, with no data or real evidence to back it up. Many hardworking and curious young people out there wouldn't appreciate your blanket statement.
Assuming an average birth date on this forum of ~1950-60, the graduation rates for that generation were ~13% for high school and ~65% for college. Today the rates are ~38% and ~91% respectively. The younger generation is smarter and more diligent than ever.
There are also more custom framebuilders currently than in the history of this country. So let's not attribute Waterford's closing to the work ethic of the current generation.
Assuming an average birth date on this forum of ~1950-60, the graduation rates for that generation were ~13% for high school and ~65% for college. Today the rates are ~38% and ~91% respectively. The younger generation is smarter and more diligent than ever.
There are also more custom framebuilders currently than in the history of this country. So let's not attribute Waterford's closing to the work ethic of the current generation.
Likes For Atlas Shrugged:
#33
Senior Member
But I really doubt you see the irony. Carryon.
Likes For iab:
#34
Crawlin' up, flyin' down
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Democratic Peoples' Republic of Berkeley
Posts: 5,904
Bikes: 1967 Paramount; 1982-ish Ron Cooper; 1978 Eisentraut "A"; two mid-1960s Cinelli Speciale Corsas; and others in various stages of non-rideability.
Liked 2,915 Times
in
1,221 Posts
Sounds like the same "back in my day" ramblings said by every generation of their successor, with no data or real evidence to back it up. Many hardworking and curious young people out there wouldn't appreciate your blanket statement.
Assuming an average birth date on this forum of ~1950-60, the graduation rates for that generation were ~13% for high school and ~65% for college. Today the rates are ~38% and ~91% respectively. The younger generation is smarter and more diligent than ever.
There are also more custom framebuilders currently than in the history of this country. So let's not attribute Waterford's closing to the work ethic of the current generation.
Assuming an average birth date on this forum of ~1950-60, the graduation rates for that generation were ~13% for high school and ~65% for college. Today the rates are ~38% and ~91% respectively. The younger generation is smarter and more diligent than ever.
There are also more custom framebuilders currently than in the history of this country. So let's not attribute Waterford's closing to the work ethic of the current generation.
The one thing I will disagree with is that the "younger generations is smarter . . . than ever." Today's youth are every bit as dumb as we were at their age. They have immediate access to waaaaay more information, but knowing a lot of information is not the same thing as intelligence. Their CPUs are do not fully mature any faster than ours or any other generation's did. Today's average 18 year old is every bit as capable of doing amazingly stupid things as we were, and every 22 year old is only marginally better just as was the case with us. That does not make them better or worse, lazier or harder working, or smarter or dumber than us, it makes them pretty much the same as us, but with some different challenges
__________________
"I'm in shape -- round is a shape." Andy Rooney
"I'm in shape -- round is a shape." Andy Rooney
Likes For bikingshearer:
#35
Senior Member
You must be new around here. Worn out tropes is what these forums are all about. I mean there is a BF language that has developed around them, crabon and assplode is just a start.
#36
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: PDX
Posts: 13,504
Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2
Liked 6,810 Times
in
3,892 Posts
There are also more custom framebuilders currently than in the history of this country.
CITATION NEEDED and maybe so but obviously none of them deemed it prudent to preserve one of the best, longest running ones so here we are.
So let's not attribute Waterford's closing to the work ethic of the current generation.
CITATION NEEDED and maybe so but obviously none of them deemed it prudent to preserve one of the best, longest running ones so here we are.
So let's not attribute Waterford's closing to the work ethic of the current generation.
#37
Senior Member
Likes For TenGrainBread:
#38
Senior Member
As always, great video JJ !
__________________
Likes For nomadmax:
#39
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 1,932
Bikes: to many to list
Liked 1,218 Times
in
286 Posts
Gosh,
I go on vacation and check in to find this conversation! LOL.
It's all good
John
I go on vacation and check in to find this conversation! LOL.
It's all good
John
__________________
From Illinois. Collector of many fine bicycles from all over the world. Subscribe to my Youtube channel. Just search John's vintage road bike garage
From Illinois. Collector of many fine bicycles from all over the world. Subscribe to my Youtube channel. Just search John's vintage road bike garage
#40
Crawlin' up, flyin' down
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Democratic Peoples' Republic of Berkeley
Posts: 5,904
Bikes: 1967 Paramount; 1982-ish Ron Cooper; 1978 Eisentraut "A"; two mid-1960s Cinelli Speciale Corsas; and others in various stages of non-rideability.
Liked 2,915 Times
in
1,221 Posts
And I mean all of that in a good way and I in no way mean to denigrate the good job you did with him. Just saying that Richard Schwinn is an easier interview than, say, Bruce Gordon would have been..
P.S. Love the t-shirt, John. I have one exactly like it. One of the very few French bike-related things I own.
__________________
"I'm in shape -- round is a shape." Andy Rooney
"I'm in shape -- round is a shape." Andy Rooney
Likes For bikingshearer:
#41
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 1,932
Bikes: to many to list
Liked 1,218 Times
in
286 Posts
Yes, a good interview. Based on my limited exposure to him, however, I would expect Richard Schwinn to be a pretty easy interview. He's gregarious and loves to talk about bikes, especially Schwinns and Waterfords. You just put the quarter in him and let him go.
And I mean all of that in a good way and I in no way mean to denigrate the good job you did with him. Just saying that Richard Schwinn is an easier interview than, say, Bruce Gordon would have been..
P.S. Love the t-shirt, John. I have one exactly like it. One of the very few French bike-related things I own.
And I mean all of that in a good way and I in no way mean to denigrate the good job you did with him. Just saying that Richard Schwinn is an easier interview than, say, Bruce Gordon would have been..
P.S. Love the t-shirt, John. I have one exactly like it. One of the very few French bike-related things I own.
John Haboush
__________________
From Illinois. Collector of many fine bicycles from all over the world. Subscribe to my Youtube channel. Just search John's vintage road bike garage
From Illinois. Collector of many fine bicycles from all over the world. Subscribe to my Youtube channel. Just search John's vintage road bike garage
#42
Newbie
Join Date: May 2024
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I'm posting this if anyone is considering buying a Waterford/Gunnar produced towards the end of the company's lifespan. I purchased a new Gunnar Hyper X from an authorized retailer in 2022. My bike, along with 2 others purchased from the same retailer (and still in my small city) have cracked where the top tube meets the seat tube. I've emailed Richard but I've not heard back after an initial introduction. I'm shocked that it cracked, I primarily mountain bike, so I've put maybe 1,500 miles on this around town in the past 2 years.