I just got a call, I heard Clark shut the doors today it is over
WTF!!!, something about , EPA and OSHA. Im trying to get more info .
-Kirk Putnam Dec 5, 2005
http://www2.swaylocks.com/node/1017992
This is for sure the coolest thread I have read yet. It should go in the books of history.
I love the armageddon vibe they got going on. It’s kind of comedic, reliving it…knowing how much better off we are now.
Benjamin
there are a few other interesting things hidden away as well
** just ask john mellor eh john **
not a fan of pupe, and didnt need to rely on it, but if your livelyhood is making surfboards, at that time, it WAS armagedon. evidently some folks didnt make it past the shock very long.
Hi Huie -
What do I know?
My last project was made from a deck offcut retrieved from a dumpster.
For me it's all about the waves and just getting out in the water once in awhile.
john
your board in the heater looks damn fine, why dont you show us one with the full board in daylight?? wicked nose job [the wooden one]
ciao!
john i was refering to the dave parmenter speil ( but only joking)
anyway how the hell are you well i hope.
This is reminding me of how I discovered Sways. The Parmenter manifesto was the first time I ever heard of this place, somebody told me ''you gotta read this'' and gave me the link. Then when Clark closed and we were all looking for info, I thought of sways and checked on that thread (lotsa rumor and innuendo btw, the truth about the closure was pretty simple). Then I started kinda lurking, which led to more lurking, which led to joining in.
i still have the shirt that bill barnfield made up, ‘the end of first quality blanks–dude when is my board going to be done?’ boy, we really went threw some chaos then didn’t we?
Hi Wouter -
Thanks! I posted the project awhile back.
Hi Huie -
In all honesty, EPS blanks have come a long way since I ordered that Home Depot block. I'd give my left nut (it's not connected anyway) to have some of that foam you're using down there.
The Manifesto likely stirred up more trouble than it was worth. It was.... well.... INTERESTING at the time but even Parmenter has gone the overseas outsourcing route.
Heaps of praise to guys like you who are still flying the hand made banner.
...
Roy must've been close to fifth gear by then...his hikoi board must be ready for another northshore run...
[quote="$1"]
(lotsa rumor and innuendo btw, the truth about the closure was pretty simple). [/quote]
hmm, I may not know the truth, but I do know this...
He did everything to create and maintain a virtual monopoly, and thousands of people had virtually no choice but to rely on that monopoly. The people's needs made him very rich.
Then he essentially said to them "screw you all, I'm leaving, fend for yourselves", without uttering the words.
Dont know if that's the truth, but if it is, its lame.
You can say what you want about Grubby Clark. He made a very big impact on surfing and made it possible to get as far as we have. He played a very important part of surfings history for sure. Now that the market is wide open we all can take it to the next level. Let's be carefull about bashing people you don't know personally? I have a lot of respect for the man. His reasons are far deeper than you realize. I met him when I was 16 years Old at his factory in the early 70's and he was a good role model. It seems here in America we bash anyone that is more sucessful than ourselves?
Hey crafty, I'll give you my take on it sometime, but it's not something I'd discuss on a public forum. I don't agree with everything Gordon did in his business. But it was his business and he could conduct it however he pleased. I can tell you that he genuinely cared about his customers and the custom surfboard. He didn't intentionally say ''screw you'' to anybody but the media.
“tall poppy syndrome” <—the one that sticks up too far gets chopped off. might apply in this case? sure he maintained a monolopy, but did also maintain steady supply of product for growth of the industry…
Well Said!
And his product was of good consistant quality and affordable for even hobby shapers buying low volume. Not to mention the free blades for the small hand planes. Custom blanks were not much more, either. Mike
For me US Blanks is the closes to CLARK's Service and the foam is much better!
Gordon supported the ''little guy'' so much that it seriously aggravated his larger customers. Although he might not admit it, he'd probably love the average swaylocker putzing in his garage.