Originally Posted by
southpawboston
It depends on how you define a reproduction. If the descendants of Rene Herse, another generation removed, were still producing Herses today but using modern techniques and keeping up with modern components, would it be a reproduction? Or just evolution of the brand?
I think it's pretty clear that Herse would have adapted to what was available. They were still using throwback parts on some bikes to the end of production because their customers wanted it, but there are plenty of examples of Herse bikes that had contemporaneous parts. I would pick current Herse over most of the other bikes in that price range. I would love to have a JP Weigle, but comparing a Herse to a Weigle isn't really fair given the difference in cost and wait times.
Originally Posted by
balindamood
This is very different than what has happened to Herse and some others where bought and are still being produced by others. I do not wish to diminish Mr. Heine's apparant dedication to the mark; and he has certainly tried to continue the tradition and styling that has been Herse's trademark over the years. However, I cannot help but either put his venture into some sort of "tribute brand / retroduction", or as some sort of high-end version of what has happened to GT/Schwinn/Raleigh and others.
I think this misses the mark. Jan Heine reveres the brand, but they are building the kind of bike he wants to ride. I have no idea what Mercian is up to, but I sincerely doubt there is anyone in that company that is in it for anything but commerce. As a framebuilder, I see Mercian as "Joe the discount frambuilder" and nothing more.