Isen workshop: adventures in batch production (or not...)

See, I knew you would like unsolicited comments. On a constructive note, I would be happy to take a pass at writing something, which you would be fully within your rights to ignore.

Antipodist

"I weld, therefore I am. Buy my bikes or hippy will eat your children."

Are children just another type of midget to you?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHGPixsRWBw

Ok, so how about deposit if waiting for batch, full payment if in stock (obvs)?

deposit if waiting for batch, full payment if in stock (obvs)?

That sounds similar to the system adopted by everybody's local frame building bike shop some time around 1925. It will never work :)

If they didn't have hashtags I don't know to #know about them, what can I learn from something so ancient?

Stanton work in a kinda-batch way but they hide it. And use interest free credit to avoid the deposit stuff. I'd imagine it's difficult and expensive to get a credit arrangement with a retail finance org when you are just starting out. But I imagine its a fair way of dealing with the problems associated with deposit arrangements.

What's happening with the payment of the balance?

Will you be issuing an invoice or relying on an honesty box?

Any idea when this will be due for a 57?

Right so I am bored and this thread seems to have cooled down so I am going to re-launch it (most likely unsuccessfully)....What's happened to our ISENs? What stage of the "factory" are they in right now? :)

great (annoying) minds..

Matt posted a pic of one way ticket to Thailand with a bag of money on the background ..

Balance before shipping/ collection. I'm going to try and get a realistic date today after speaking to Caren.

Went to visit the Talbot workshop in Crystal Palace when I was in London for work last week. Really fun to see the place (impressed with this project given the size of the place), and Matt is really a super nice chap. As far as I understood it, frames up to size 55 have been sent off for painting etc. Larger sizes are almost done, but waiting on some additional seat stays due to workshop minion fuck up during measuring/cutting. Please correct me if I got it wrong.

Thread has cooled down as the frames are with Caren at the mo being paint prepped/ primed (not sure exactly wehat stage) up to 55cm, 57 and 59 are with me getting last bridges. We had a bit of an issue with the seat stays for the last half of 57 and 59, in that we cut them too short so needed to order a load more from columbus. Not the end of the world, as they incorrect ones can go on the next batch on a smaller size.

Another issue we have had is the wait between build and paint is too big to just metal etch and go, they need surface prep. Over 30 frames that is really boring. Another good reason to build smaller numbers quicker going forward I think.

I think that we will be sending them out as and when they are done, so it will be a stream of bikes leaving rather than all in one go. I'm having lunch with caren today, and will be back with a more accurate (provisional) eta after that. Hope that's ok?

Minion not to blame, it's my fault for not explaining the importance of BB height in relation to stay cutting. Other than that very accurate ;)

Probably should have worked out a way to get the balances before I left.....

That's absolutely fine of course! I am in no rush at all on this to be honest, just bored at work and this thread has been a great way of killing time so far...

@BareNecessities has just pointed out it has ceased being photo heavy. I have demanded caren takes more photos. Then asked nicely when she told me to fuck off. Photos to follow.

in fact....so bored that I got in touch with you for a new bike!! Work better get busier soon..

I think it's just the right amount of bored ;)

OK, spoke to Caren. We (by we I mean she) will be lacquering the first beginning of next week, so they should ship 2 days after that. I don't know which ones specifically, just that they are the smaller sizes up to 55, however all of them will be going out pretty quickly after that.

Working capital from them going out means we can pay 2 people to paint the bigger sizes, which should be welded by the time those ones have gone out. So touch wood we are a week away form the first Isens leaving the shop!

Awesome

Apart from I won't have a rear mech until December

😰