A marque is born?
 

Close followers of this forum may know that I'm doing some framework on a vintage Holdsworth for [MENTION=73614]rhm[/MENTION]. What isn't known is there's some tradework going on. Those close followers will also know that he does saddle re-leathering, with custom stampings. When his Holdsworth arrived at Atelier Gugie, I was amazed at the wonderful decaling. Not knowing the Holdsworth label well, one could easily think this was their marque. Having seen some original decals, I can uncategorically state that they are an improvement on the original.

To my surprise, Rudi started working on some new branding for me.

First, a saddle
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/262/32...40bd5792_b.jpg

I have read about the extra thick leather he uses, this will surely last twice, thrice, well, a lot more than the Brooks standard:

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/575/32...848edcf0_b.jpg

The brass rivets are big, fat, beautiful, and remind us of the craftsman who made them:

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/323/32...ba5af1d2_b.jpg

Completely satisfied with his work, yet there was more:

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/658/31...5a918245_b.jpg

Decals for downtubes, seat tubes, and gorgeous head badges in brass:

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/554/32...289f162f_b.jpg

All I can add is, wow!

Wow indeed. Double Wow even. :beer:

Excellent work in concept, execution and taste. That's going to look great on a bike. Can't wait to see.

supurbe. I got to get my old broken Ideale up to him

Wow, those look professional and high end. Very cool.

Wow, very impressed all around. Fantastic work!

I'd love to hear more about how those head badges were crafted.

Looking good! Can't wait to see the finished product.

Cheers,

Van

That is so cool! How long is the waiting list for a custom Guglielmana?

I think you may be first in line, Andy :)

Put me down for frame 000002, pls, [MENTION=381793]gugie[/MENTION]!

Very nice work. Classy and understated. Ties everything together very well. Subscribed.

First saddles!!! Now head badges!!!! Dang [MENTION=73614]rhm[/MENTION] you are full of amazing ideas which come to fruition. The #elonmusk of our C&V world!
[MENTION=381793]gugie[/MENTION], thanks for sharing! Now let's see the frame! :innocent:

Thanks, everyone, for your kind words!

Someone contacted me about restoring a Bartali saddle, and provided this image of the stamp... which was helpful, but not quite enough to get me started.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E64q63vUlD...25287%2529.jpg

So I searched for similar images and found this:
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/457/32...af9755e0_b.jpg
You should check out the source, by the way; very cool bike » Vianzone.001

So I figured both the Benotto and Bartali saddles were made by a saddle manufacturer in italy (FN in Bologna) and they used the same stock graphics for both. So I stole the design :thumb:

If necessity is the mother of all invention, then surely, RHM is the father...

Absolutely amazing stuff there, both of you guys deserve a "Chapeau!" for the work you do. Artisan are rare now, and we have at least two of them here.

Bill

Nice marque, Mark! And excellent work, rhm!

Amazing craftsmanship [MENTION=73614]rhm[/MENTION]!

The end results are outstanding. I, for one, would love to see a bit more about the process involved in creating the stamp/die/etc that resulted in those excellent products (especially the leather and metal badges).

Hmm... well, at the risk of giving away proprietary trade secrets...

I start with a drawing...
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/762/31...dd583380_b.jpg

and I go to the 3D printing service "Shapeways:"
https://www.shapeways.com/creator/2dto3d#landing

and I upload my drawing. After a few steps I get a preview of the stamps, which might look like this:
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/617/31...cfae2dba_z.jpg

I chose a material (in this case, the cheapest plastic). They do various checks of how thick it will be, and... eventually I pay them, they print it, and they send it to me.

I do something similar with the head badge, except it was "printed" in brass or bronze. That actually means they print in castable wax and then turn it into metal by a lost wax casting process. It comes to me flat; I file it as needed, add paint, sand the paint of the high parts, curve it to fit a bicycle, and... that's about it. Please don't tell anyone.

I made [MENTION=381793]gugie[/MENTION] four head badges; two of them are brass, two are bronze. I can't tell the difference, but I believe they will oxidize differently, so in a year or two they should be different colors.

RHM is recovering/re-leathering my 1935 Maino saddle using the original frame and badge etc. I can't wait to see it done as his work looks exemplary!

I agree, incredible work from master craftsmen.
Just think 200 years from now when someone does a search asking:
" I found this neat old bike but can't find much on the cloud does anyone know anything about the maker? Any help greatly appreciated....I did do a search and no the fork is not bent!!
Ben

Too cool, Rudi. I thought for sure you wouldn't share your secrets. Thanks for doing so.
We promise to tell no one.

Very cool!

Just about anyone can make a headbadge.

Making one that is really cool, though, takes talent.

Talent is the secret ingredient.

Wow, that's just amazing. Really.

thanks for the "traded secrets" This may be very helpful to me on a completely not bike related project I have going

[MENTION=381793]gugie[/MENTION] & [MENTION=73614]rhm[/MENTION] - very nice work, and can't wait to see the bike n person!