Thursday, January 10, 2008

Production Update

Here's what on the menu this week:

I have some Bike Tools that I will start the finish work on tomorrow but I am lacking bits for most of them so it will be Monday night at the earliest before the whole batch will be ready. I have to put in the order for bits tomorrow and they will be delivered in the afternoon on Monday.

I just cut more Bermuda Triangles today and so they will be delayed until Tuesday or Wednesday at the earliest. I have a rather large batch of these coming.

I have a couple dozen Crawdaddies going into heat treat tomorrow. Also a few dozen G2 Prybabies. These will be finished and ready about the middle of next week.

I have a very small batch of special G2 Mini Gasbabies that will be ready tomorrow afternoon.

20 comments:

Unknown said...

Peter -- I love Damascus steel, and was lucky enough to score a whistle with a twist. Is Damascus harder to work with than Titanium or S30v? If not, it sure would be cool if you made a few items from your large batches out of something a bit special (at a bit higher price, I'm sure). That way you could both keep us collector-types happy, as well as produce enough so newbies who don't refresh your page every few minutes can actually buy something.

Anonymous said...

well.... i know wher i'll be all next week. cant wait.... but.... what about the sharkbite and nibbler?

Bush -- not related said...

Great, Peter. While I love watching the new products bubble out of your fervid imagination, HAVING something is even better.

I threw the idea out in the midst of a larger discussion about how hard it is to get an Atwood Tool and how hard it is for you to keep track of the people writing in and buggin' you via email, but have you given any further thought to my suggestion that you license some of your older/discontinued ideas to someone like Columbia River?

I don't believe Dozier's had any less respect for his skills as a knifemaker despite the phenomenal success of his line of inexpensive-yet-sturdy (AUS-8) blades for Ka-Bar, so I don't see your reputation taking a hit. It might solve some of the eBay problems and maybe even that of the Chinese Knockoff (as I said before, license it to someone big and let THEM go after the fakers...).

Again, just a thought, but seeing the lovelies you've got languishing in the Discontinued page hurts, man, it hurts... here.. deep inside (-- The Thin Man Goes Home).

Thanks for listening.

Anonymous said...

Sounds pretty cool,
I'll be watching that's for sure.

Anonymous said...

... thanks for the update Peter, it makes things a lot easier having an idea of what's coming and when..

Cheers!

Anonymous said...

I'm with Bush. I had a trawl of the net for images of your Atwood-ware and there are some real beauties.
The collectors will always go for the Atwood original, but for us users of your tools the practical designs you create would be much more accessible.

Please give it some thought. The big makers always acknowledge the designer.

Peter Atwood said...

It's not that I wouldn't consider some kind of licensing deal. But I have not been in contact yet with any of the companies who might be interested. It would be better if they came to me rather than vice versa and that has not happened yet.

Hiring someone is out especially in MA. Too many headaches and too much paperwork. Sure I would get more made but after paying someone's wages and paying for their health insurance, workman's comp, etc I don't think there's any gain on the bottom line and it would be a huge hassle.

Anonymous said...

I am amazed at how fast that bike tool sold.
Wowsers that's fast.

Anonymous said...

Those gasbabies are beauties!

Anonymous said...

@$&#! i missed the special prybaby. i was at the auto shop all day trying to get my stupid car to pass smog! F@$&ing california emmision standards! thoes mini gasbabies were awsome! who ever got luck was on your side

Anonymous said...

I don't actually have a sugestion, but I stronglly disagree with mass production of your tools and licensing to other parties.

I've been in the last 2 months trying to grab ONE of your tools (well, one that I like too) and almost seems impossible! I don't have any (YET), so believe this is a honest opinion.

I would like my oportunity to have one, but fighting for it makes better for you and for me that later feel that I earned it for persuing it. (otherwise I wouldn't even be writing this)
Mass production only will give access to people who will not appreciate your work and will confuse your work from others.

As for ebayers, well, not much can be done otherwise than mass production OR bigger sell control (like checking IP's and addresses) to refrain not also their thirst of money but to give oportunity to others!

Keep that ideas flowing!

^M0rk^ said...

Ok for mass production, as far as I'm concerned.

I've been skinned alive recently for some Atwood items on eBay, so I would gladly buy some more at the regular price on Peter's site instead of filling someone else's pockets.

my two cents
Francesco

Anonymous said...

any thought about the B triangle in steel? thats why i like your tools, hefty and solid

Anonymous said...

have all the bermuda triangles been sold "the big batch"?

Anonymous said...

...... Peter when are more Bermuda riangles likely to be available please?

Peter Atwood said...

They went back into the tumbler yesterday so will be ready maybe Tuesday.

Unknown said...

Peter- This may be a really dumb idea (I've had a few). I wonder, given the specialized needs of bicyclists, if you might consider offering the bicycle tool w/o bits. Why I say this is, it is highly unlikely that you'll be able to provide each person's "needs" and we will likely have to replace the two bits with the one's each needs most (e.g., when on my road bike I'd need different ones than on the mountain bike, etc.).

I'd vote you keep production in house. I think the appeal of your stuff is the personality- the "soul" imparted to the object by contact with it's originator has an aesthetic value to those who buy your stuff. I don't just want something with Atwood stamped on it. It is like a fine wine or musical instrument. It is so cool to buy something and know it went from idea to object to use w/o going onto a production line. Course, I guess you could lisence it and keep production rights so folks could pay the premium if they want. Maybe even selling rights to things you have moved on from. Oh, heck. Obviously, you are wiser about this than all us! :) Take care.

hanselopolis said...

Still planning on some PryBabies this week?

Peter Atwood said...

Hans, not exactly but I will be doing some new flat ti Gasbabies...

hanselopolis said...

Excerrent!