Hand lasted vs machine lasted

[Burton]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Burton
This is the most inane and useless thread I have ever seen. This artiticial conflict between men and machines can only be debated by those that do not understand 1) what modern manufacturing machines are capable of and 2) how shoes are actually made. In an era where so few have ever stepped foot into a manufacturing operation, I am not suprised. The beauty of hand made shoes is that they are hand made--they are creations of the mind of the maker, the craftsmen. Those craftsmen cannot compete with the perfection that a machine can create. To discuss these things in threads likes this is to debase both the craftsman and the maker of the machine--who is also a craftsman.

Originally Posted by mafoofan

This is more or less what I've been saying, no?


No. M. Foo, you equate obvious flaws, which clearly should be caught in QC (and which shoes should then be sold as seconds), as personal touches of the shoemaker. A silly and false argument which should not be made by one who spends 40 pages or so ripping on a suit maker for imperfections in a shoulder. Tsk. Tsk. Quite hyporcrital. No. The argument goes like this: One could make a perfect replication of the mona lisa with a machine. One cannot make the orignal mona lisa with a machine--at least not yet. Quirks of design or limitations of human dexterity are interesting, obvious flaws are not. To be specific, confusing Alden's lack of quality control with craftsmenship is silliness.

 

[Tidybeard]

Originally Posted by apropos

By hand? Or with a machine?

Surprised you have to ask - by His right hand.

 

[voxsartoria]

I am listening to live, hand and mouth made music now. I am waiting for cow-made steak and hen-made eggs...cooked by hand, but in machine made pans.

I am sitting on a machine made stool. I am posting from a Chinese-made mobile phone, but non Chinese people designed and market it. Indian people are the friendly voice of tech support.

I do not know if any hands were involved in the last part, bit I do know that Al Gore made tour ability to read what I just dictated possible.

- B

 

[srivats]

Originally Posted by voxsartoria

I do not know if any hands were involved in the last part, bit I do know that Al Gore made tour ability to read what I just dictated possible.

- B

 

[Insight]

Originally Posted by DocHolliday

I too must apologize, having stayed out of this thread entirely. But Vox has done a good job playing me, arguing the very un-SF point that quality improvements and artisinal handwork are largely irrelevant if they don't have a practical, measurable impact on an item's use and lifespan.

I take DWF's point, but, in the end, conclude I still come out ahead if I must replace five $500 EGs to obtain the period of service from one entirely handmade $5,000 shoe.

Somehow, though, I doubt the gemming failure rate is that high.

Where are you getting $500 EG's?

 

[DocHolliday]

Originally Posted by Insight

Where are you getting $500 EG's?

B&S, Grapevinehill, eBay, etc. But even if you bump it up to $700, the EG sale price, the comparison still stands.

Heck, it stands even if you bump it up to full retail.

 

[voxsartoria]

Originally Posted by DocHolliday

B&S, Grapevinehill, eBay, etc. But even if you bump it up to $700, the EG sale price, the comparison still stands.

Heck, it stands even if you bump it up to full retail.

What of $700 Vass? Even comes with lasted trees.

I know: I just blew your mind.


- B

 

[BBC]

So my NOS Bostonian Crown Windsors stamped "Hand Lasted" on the sole are better than EGs?!

 

[apropos]

Depends.

Are they gemmed?

You can find this out by wearing them out. And if they explode or disintegrate, they are gemmed.

 

[BBC]

I was wondering why they were ticking

 

[furo]

Originally Posted by BBC

I was wondering why they were ticking

 

[furo]

Originally Posted by voxsartoria

What of $700 Vass? Even comes with lasted trees.

I know: I just blew your mind.


- B

Even bigger mind-blower-upper:

Vass are made in a factory

 

[alliswell]

Originally Posted by furo

Vass are made in a factory

Interesting word, this 'factory'. It comes from 'manufactory', a place where something is made by hand.

 

[apropos]

Originally Posted by alliswell

Interesting word, this 'factory'. It comes from 'manufactory', a place where something is made by hand.

 

[poorsod]

One version of John Henry - abridged.

John Henry started on the right-hand side,
And the steam drill started on the left.
He said, "Before I'd let that steam drill beat me down,
I'd hammer my fool self to death,
Oh, I'd hammer my fool self to death."

The steam drill started at half past six,
John Henry started the same time.
John Henry stuck bottom at half past eight,
And the steam drill didn't bottom till nine,
Oh, the steam drill didn't bottom till nine.

John Henry said to his captain,
"A man, he ain't nothing but a man,
Before I'd let that steam drill beat me down,
Oh, I'd die with the hammer in my hand."