Billy Lane
Paul Teutul Jr and Sr
Arlen Ness
Shinya Kimura
these guys did something similar to Von Dutch for the industry they made famous, they brought it to the headlines, and magazine features, and put the chopper into pop culture in a positive way that had corporations lining up to be customers, and cable tv channels trying to sign the talent to a contract for a series.
If you don't get the Von Dutch reference, well, shit, I've been doing this a long time, and about a decade ago, I came across a very cool tribute from pinstripers who showed respect to Von Dutch because if not for him, they'd work jobs that sucked just like you and me
my mistake, it was 16 years ago. https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/01/brucker-collection-aka-von-dutchs.html
So back to my point, these legends of chopper builds were a big part of the movement that allowed a LOT of other guys to start their own business, and enjoy the American dream of running your own business, making friends and customers happy, and creating a piece of respected craftsmanship
Shinya is the best of this bunch, as far as I'm concerned. He is the only one I would consider a true mechanical artist.
ReplyDeleteand of the "familiar chopper makers" he's what you said better than I could, "true mechanical artist" but the least commercial chopper focused producer. The others were all about the business of choppers and the publicity to gain from it, for better business profitability. It takes all kinds to fill in the "genre" from machinists, to publicity whores, to craftsmen....
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