build off

Showing posts with label Evolution. Show all posts

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Cyril Interviews Jesse About The Build-Off Against Teutuls

Click on the pic to read the interview from Cyril's Blog.

Clarence Writes

1936

To: Richard
Sent: Saturday, January 06, 2007 7:49 PM
Subject: Freeby Berger

Richard, I was looking for ideas on tool sharpening and following links galore and came on your site. When I looked at the page for the tool holder, the name Freeby Berger jumped out at me.

I am 65 years old and the simple name means a lot to me. When I was a young man in the coal fields of Pennsylvania, I was wild about motocycles. Not motorcycles, but motocycles as that was what Indian called their brand. I was a Indian Motocycle rider and loved that brand of bike. I had my first one from a barn when I was 13 and when I met Freeby, he was already a old man but there he was at a gas station in the Pocono’s and he was astride an INDIAN!

I was 17 years old (I think?) and when I saw the bike, I slid to a halt. My Indian was an Ex-Philadelphia police model that I hand picked from a dealers lot as a trade in for new Harleys so I picked the nicest one for $150. I went over that Bike and it was just perfect. No scratches or dents and it was really fast in comparison to my 101 scout, but the one I was looking at was like new and chromed up!

I introduced myself to Mr. Berger and he suggested (after talking awhile) that I follow him to his shop in Aqua Shikola (I hope I spelled correctly) and off we went. He turned on the gas and walked away from me and I thought this old man can ride that thing. And why is it faster than mine?

When we got to the shop he showed me what he did on the motors. It seems he took the cams out and reground them for higher lift and I am sure duration was lengthened so as to multiply torque (Indians had only three gears). What he had done was more power down low and the higher lift meant that he lost none up top. With a higher sprocket you had torque and top end and that’s why he just scooted away from me.

I saved up and had him make me the cams and since I could take an Indian apart blindfolded (started at 13) I soon was flying along just Like Freeby Berger.

Now I do not know if the Freeby Berger that you knew is the one I knew, but he was a great mechanic and a machinist so its possible, unlikely but possible. In any case thanks for a pleasant memory sparked by your Freeby Berger and wish you a Happy New Year.

Regards

Clarence Marsden

1946

Monday, September 19, 2011

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Man's Ruin In Tokyo

Great bikes and photography on this site.

Monday, August 22, 2011

A very good friend from my old group and I often get to exchange notes and updates once in a while. He's now running his successful business. Collecting bikes on the side. He's a real pro who is hard to please but when your work passes his approval you know you did it better than expected.

For the moment I've stopped everything connected to riding and customizing. Focusing primarily on my new baby business. Delayed gratification I read once in a book. Make your money work for you first instead of spending it. I'm re-learning the ropes. By grace, this year has been a good year. After I set everything in order only then can I enjoy the fruits of my labor. Set up a new shop with new tools and the right resources here in the province where I reside. I miss welding badly. The smell of metal dust on my skin is nostalgic. It's great to be able to finally do what I love doing while looking out at open fields and wind blown trees.

Friday, August 19, 2011

Schaaf From All Over

Most people have to make a huge effort to look cool, but there be few who exude class effortlessly. Just the bare essentials. No extra baggage necessary.