Thoughts on website source documentation...
 

Yeah I know, you're thinking what does this have to do with C&V bikes...well, I was thinking about putting together a website to document information on my favorite vintage mark that can be shared with others. Something like the sites out there now for vintage Raleighs, Peugeots, Gitanes and Schwinns and such. In a perfect world, if I were writing a scholarly work or had had the website idea in mind over the last several years, I would have documented my sources. Unfortunately, I collected a large amount of information that at the time was strictly for personal use, especially pictures. Now I have no idea where a lot of that came from. In fact much of it comes from pictures of bikes that were up for sale on eBay or sometimes were shown on these forums or just plucked from Google pictures. What would you do - use the pictures from unknown sources without documentation or try to find others that can be documented? That would certainly set me back months and maybe make it not worth my while but I don't want to upset anybody (or get a cease and desist order from their lawyer ;) ).

Well, im not lawyer, but i would say that you may have some troubles using photos without giving credit to the original owner of the picture. But if you dont want to do all the work to set up the site, you could always help Cuda2k by writing an article based on your knowledge for VeloBase.com. As of last i heard, he is still looking for people to write articles and contribute to the site, so im sure he would appretiate it.
Here is a link to a thread that Cuda posted asking for help. I would contact him to see what he needs or wants.
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...hlight=writers

I don't know if I'd use the Google pics, the eBay pics were from someone getting rid of their bike, so they probably don't care. The ones from this forum are probably still there, so can be contacted.

Bob

It all dpends. If the pictures were printed for distribution to the public in the form of a brochure just put a disclainer on your website. If you jacked the pics from Ebay, like some of mine, who cares.

You could also just ask. I haven't had single person deny me use of pictures they've posted. From information I've gathered from other sites pictures belong to the person who snapped them. Peugeot actualy states that their information can be used for non-commercial projects. Be sure to put a genral disclaimer on yourwebsite. something like:

all pictures used by permsssion of owner. If you see a picture that you own and would like it removed please contact me at xxxxxxxx

Jim

Kommisar - Right now Velobase.com mostly covers information on bicycle components, however I am starting to expand into frames and thus bicycle builders, which a lot of your information that you have gathered will be of great help. I already have a growing collection of bicycle head badges and list of brands that can be added to at any time.

I am looking for people to write some articles on different brands, as well as other topics on vintage bicycles. The range of topics is pretty wide. Feel free to send me a PM (or discuss in thread) what you might wish to contribute.

As far as photos go, I've borrowed a fair few from ebay auctions since that is the only place that many vintage components show up. I do always wait for the auction to come to an end before utilizing the photo(s) in a listing on the website.

We've had great luck getting photos for our Vintage Bicycle Picture Database by asking people to contribute photos of their cycles.
We've also allowed our photos to be used on other sites as long as the user contacts us first and credits the photo to our site.