The pleasure of fine things

analog_peninsula said:

A favorite aunt was kind enough to leave me this very elegant table. It’s easy to enjoy nice things.

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I was about to comment on that spectacular Neoclassical Federal tea/coffee service, and then I saw your follow-on note. The table is very nice, but assuming that service is appropriately marked, you have real treasure.

Hmmmm. Perhaps I dip my toe in these water from time to time. Not routinely. I do prefer genuine Vermont maple syrup, Belgian chocolate, and a good Idaho potato.

Fine hunting dogs, a box of shells, and a decent shotgun suit me just fine. I do enjoy a custom-tailored suit and a few other things. At this point I’m starting to favor experiences over things.

Datchew said:

Love this thread.

I'm not much of a watch guy, but I'm a big fan of mechanical achievement.

This is a 1964 BMW r50/2 motorcycle.
I bought it as a pile of parts in 2008 while I was still at General Electric as a lowly design engineer.

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I spent 2 years sorting, selling, trading, and building in my basement.

The impressive things I loved was that the Germans measured gear tooth mesh rate on the timing gears in .002" increments with a feeler gauge and even back then, 1964, in a sand cast aluminum engine case, the spec for crankshaft runout was 0.0003"

That's 3 ten-thousandths of an inch.

That... Is not an easy measurement to take, much less machine!!

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My helpers were small and eager in those days
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He's much taller now and the bike still purrs like a kitten

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Beautiful! My 1966 R50/2 still looks like your first photo. I will use this as inspiration to get back at it.

Ontario Hunter said:

Interesting riding saddle. Obviously a roper but with such a high cantle? Beautiful tooling. Who's the maker? My roper was handmade by a long deceased rancher/saddlemaker in Rigby, Idaho whose shop I think is now a museum. Nothing fancy but it fits me like a glove. It has lower Cherokee roll style cantle which is easier to kick over for fast dismount.

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OH, it is a "Wade" tree. More of a buckaroo style. It was built for me by Grizzly Saddlery in Great Falls, Montana back around 2001.

I really enjoy quality in guns, wood, and leather, in that order. I want good natural leather--not the coated stuff that looks like leather grain, but is actually glorified paint masquerading as stain. I like highly figured wood on firearms, and good carving in furniture. I adore quality engraving on firearms, and the deeper the better, especially German game scene, but also a deep, fine scroll. I like break action guns--drillings, combination guns and doubles, and claw mounts. I like Mannlicher Schoenauers, even if I have to rescue an abused one and bring it back to life. I like older Mercedes and Jaguars with their burl wood dashes, and I like the wood trim option on automobile interiors. I will take leather seats over fabric in truck or car. I am VERY picky about art. I want only the best, even if it is a print by Chas. Frace', Bob Kuhn or Carl Brenders. Matting and framing are almost as important. I prefer cork handles on fishing rods, fine quality reels, and split cane for fly rods, though to be honest I fly fish the least. I like BF Goodrich T/A tires, and never low profile "pimp" tires and wheels. I like all the chrome I can get, in general on things automotive, and make that real chrome, not plastic. I like fitted cases for firearms, but do not trust them for international travel. I like the finest optics available for any purpose--I own no cheap ones except for one loaner pair of binos which are actually great quality for the price. I am a Zeiss fan-boy, I guess. I admire even their 15x60 BGA, which was a pinnacle of workmanship, though it is behind in terms of today's more modern coatings. Still, it is easy to see why they were once so coveted. I consider Zeiss FL abbe-koenig designs to be the pinnacle in binos and their HT rifle scopes I would never be without! I am also a fan of Swarovski, but own only few of their offerings for some reason. (Nikon SE model binos are stellar performers, but not waterproof, so I enjoy them for fair weather use) I like Alden horse hide shoes & belts, and Kramer horse hide leather holster. I like loden but high tech, not wool so much. Thank God for Gortex. I like Kennetrek, Danner, Lowe, and Redwing boots. Courtney ostrich are OK-ish. I like quality in any tool. I prefer real oak wood flooring in my home. I built a nice wood pirogue and hope to build a cedar strip canoe someday. My all time favorite vehicle was a 1937 Ford P/U street rod with a chevy engine. I have a rather extensive library, lots of Africana.

All this though my 1992 fishing boat is beat to Hell, my truck is a 2007 and I am the biggest skin-flint when it comes to almost everything else, fixing rather than replacing, re-purposing lumber, finding joy in getting the best deal for $$ and scrimping and saving so I can actually GO hunting/fishing. I care less than nothing about jewelry or watches of any kind. Doesn't make sense, does it?

I love having fine things around the house.
I have seven children - half adults now, and they all have expressed their gratitude in growing up in a house with great books, fine art, and excellent cooking.
I’ve always thought that one of the greatest responsibilities of a parent is to build a household with interesting and fascinating things which the kids can learn from. There’s nothing more depressing than a house with no books, no good art and nothing of interest on display.
I’ve seen this a lot when I would take the kids to their friends’ houses.
Now I have my kids vying for the good stuff upon my demise!! LOL!!

I really like animal bronzes.
Here are a couple that are well into the ‘fine’ category.

I also like furniture.
Years ago, we bought a Stickley dining set and a Syracuse sideboard to match.
We ordered it at the Stickley store just north of Denver. The salesperson mentioned to us that a famous actress had ordered the same set for her house in Kremmling - I think it was Susan Sarandon but not exactly sure.
Anyway, the cabinets on the Syracuse have lock plates and keyholes but no actual locks - I thought that was pretty dumb - a keyhole with just wood behind it…
We had them custom fit locks on the cabinets which wasn’t even all that expensive and now we have the only Syracuse sideboard made with factory fit locks!




The potted Norfolk Island Pine is certainly a fine thing too.
My wife got it at Christmas time in 1995 - a couple weeks before our wedding. It was a holiday giveaway in a little foil wrapped pot and about six inches tall.
Now it’s sort of a little monument to our 31years of marriage!

steve white said:

Doesn't make sense, does it?

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It kinda does make sense I think.. probably to many of us..

Its really all about the things you really value in life.. and the things that are just necessities.. (which may be very different for different people)..

I generally drive the same truck for 8-10 years.. until I bought a new Tundra in 2024, I hadnt bought a "new" vehicle for myself in almost 30 years.. I typically buy something 2-3 years old, where someone else has taken the bulk of the depreciation.. that has at least a little bit of warranty left on it just in case I end up buying a problem vehicle... and then I drive it until its on the brink of death before repeating the process.. a vehicle is really just a "tool" to me.. a truly fine vehicle like a S class mercedes would be wasted on me..

My wife on the other hand always buys a new vehicle, and always fully loaded with every option possible.. and generally speaking they are on the nice side of things... her last 3 vehicles have been an Infinity, a Volvo, and a BMW.. They cost a small fortune.. but.. to her credit, she, like me, will drive them 8-10 years (she drove the volvo for 12 and then we handed it down to a daughter who drove it for another 3).. so I dont complain too much..

So for me, a vehicle is not much more than a necessity.. I dont really care what options are on it.. I dont really care if its new or old.. I dont really care if its fancy or plain.. its just a necessity in life... so I own one... Where my wife really enjoys "finery" in vehicles (wood grain dash, leather seats, high end stereo systems, heated and cooled seats, etc..etc.. and likes more luxury brands..

She is also very much a gear snob when it comes to hunting.. she loves her new double rifle.. wont put a scope on one of her bolt actions if it doesnt say swaro on the side of it.. is decked out head to toe in all matching kuiu or sitka.. etc.. has 2 pair of courteneys in the closet, etc..

Where I for the most part am a winchester kinda guy.. I definitely have pieces of high quality hunting gear that Ive acquired over time.. but its certainly not a priority for me like it is for her..

We have a nice, comfortable home.. but.. if Im honest with myself, we live probably 1-2 steps down from most of my peers and others in the same income bracket.. (we have 2x executive professionals in the household and are very fairly compensated).. My bass boat is a 2014, very basic center console.. my side by side is a 2015 polaris.. neither are anything fancy.. in fact theyre both a bit worse for wear these days.. but they both accomplish their intended missions.. so I have no intent on replacing either of them anytime soon..

But I wont think twice about spending $20K on a 1 week long vacation or 1 week long hunt..

Its really all about priorities.. and what "finery" we value vs which we dont care much about..

Huvius said:

I love having fine things around the house.
I have seven children - half adults now, and they all have expressed their gratitude in growing up in a house with great books, fine art, and excellent cooking.
I’ve always thought that one of the greatest responsibilities of a parent is to build a household with interesting and fascinating things which the kids can learn from. There’s nothing more depressing than a house with no books, no good art and nothing of interest on display.
I’ve seen this a lot when I would take the kids to their friends’ houses.
Now I have my kids vying for the good stuff upon my demise!! LOL!!

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Right! The new age "surgery room" trend for interior decoration is just so colorless and sterile. It's like the millennials are vying to see who can be the blandest. My house may not be filled with the "finer things" but it is interesting. I like to think it reflects the owner.

I enjoy many fine items and craftsmanship, weather it’s in my smoking pipe collection, cigars, odd and ins that can be rarely found in today’s world, a simple handmade elephant hide business card holder, or a quality shirt from Westley Richards you get what you pay for. Being different isn’t odd or weird, it’s who you are and the world would be a boring place if we were all the same.

mdwest said:

It kinda does make sense I think.. probably to many of us..

Its really all about the things you really value in life.. and the things that are just necessities.. (which may be very different for different people)..

I generally drive the same truck for 8-10 years.. until I bought a new Tundra in 2024, I hadnt bought a "new" vehicle for myself in almost 30 years.. I typically buy something 2-3 years old, where someone else has taken the bulk of the depreciation.. that has at least a little bit of warranty left on it just in case I end up buying a problem vehicle... and then I drive it until its on the brink of death before repeating the process.. a vehicle is really just a "tool" to me.. a truly fine vehicle like a S class mercedes would be wasted on me..

My wife on the other hand always buys a new vehicle, and always fully loaded with every option possible.. and generally speaking they are on the nice side of things... her last 3 vehicles have been an Infinity, a Volvo, and a BMW.. They cost a small fortune.. but.. to her credit, she, like me, will drive them 8-10 years (she drove the volvo for 12 and then we handed it down to a daughter who drove it for another 3).. so I dont complain too much..

So for me, a vehicle is not much more than a necessity.. I dont really care what options are on it.. I dont really care if its new or old.. I dont really care if its fancy or plain.. its just a necessity in life... so I own one... Where my wife really enjoys "finery" in vehicles (wood grain dash, leather seats, high end stereo systems, heated and cooled seats, etc..etc.. and likes more luxury brands..

She is also very much a gear snob when it comes to hunting.. she loves her new double rifle.. wont put a scope on one of her bolt actions if it doesnt say swaro on the side of it.. is decked out head to toe in all matching kuiu or sitka.. etc.. has 2 pair of courteneys in the closet, etc..

Where I for the most part am a winchester kinda guy.. I definitely have pieces of high quality hunting gear that Ive acquired over time.. but its certainly not a priority for me like it is for her..

We have a nice, comfortable home.. but.. if Im honest with myself, we live probably 1-2 steps down from most of my peers and others in the same income bracket.. (we have 2x executive professionals in the household and are very fairly compensated).. My bass boat is a 2014, very basic center console.. my side by side is a 2015 polaris.. neither are anything fancy.. in fact theyre both a bit worse for wear these days.. but they both accomplish their intended missions.. so I have no intent on replacing either of them anytime soon..

But I wont think twice about spending $20K on a 1 week long vacation or 1 week long hunt..

Its really all about priorities.. and what "finery" we value vs which we dont care much about..

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I understand the truck just being a tool.
The day I bought my last new truck 98
A buddy and I were going some where. My dad got ahold of me. To tell me he need help getting cows off a highway and back on there pen he worked for rd and bridge and there the ones that got called out for that stuff.
My buddy could not believe I was chasing cows in ditches with a new truck.
It’s a truck I use it for farm stuff.

Flbt said:

I understand the truck just being a tool.
The day I bought my last new truck 98
A buddy and I were going some where. My dad got ahold of me. To tell me he need help getting cows off a highway and back on there pen he worked for rd and bridge and there the ones that got called out for that stuff.
My buddy could not believe I was chasing cows in ditches with a new truck.
It’s a truck I use it for farm stuff.

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exactly..

I haul everything from dogs to my daughters furniture to deer feeders to truck loads of landscaping materials, etc.. in mine all the time.. I drive it all over our deer lease and other rural properties... our cabin is 13 miles off paved road (all dirt and gravel) in southern colorado.. etc..etc..

If I had a "nice" truck, it wouldnt be very nice after just a few months..

Zinz said:

I’ve got that same Morgans saddle bags in brown. After many elk pack trips, they still serve me well.

An early Billy Cook roping saddle on my 16 hand saddle mule, Lou. She was such a great animal. That saddle will long outlive me…

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Ed Z

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Really nice lookin mule. Is that a pecan tree in the background?

Fine is relative. I used to buy Hickey-Freeman suits. Now, I would not touch one. New owners cheapen the brand and now made in Mexico. I really don’t know how STUPID some folks can be. Now, the only made in the USA suit I would buy is Oxxford. However, being semi-retired, not buying a lot of suits anymore.

I love my Bang & Olufsen TV, my wife on the other hand does not. Fortunately, I am in a position where I have my own separate property and buy what I please.

wesheltonj said:

Fine is relative. I used to buy Hickey-Freeman suits. Now, I would not touch one. New owners cheapen the brand and now made in Mexico. I really don’t know how STUPID some folks can be. Now, the only made in the USA suit I would buy is Oxxford. However, being semi-retired, not buying a lot of suits anymore.

I love my Bang & Olufsen TV, my wife on the other hand does not. Fortunately, I am in a position where I have my own separate property and buy what I please.

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It probably does not fit in with fine things but it does on moving stuff to Mexico. I am a big tall guy. I used sierra ridge jeans they were made in Canadian they were grate I think Better than lees.
They started makeing them in Mexico. One day in a saddle and they had holes in them

Flbt said:

It probably does not fit in with fine things but it does on moving stuff to Mexico. I am a big tall guy. I used sierra ridge jeans they were made in Canadian they were grate I think Better than lees.
They started makeing them in Mexico. One day in a saddle and they had holes in them

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Sorry I am going to Frostbite this:
Yes, Hickey Freeman is considered a luxury brand, known for its high-end men's suits and exceptional craftsmanship, although its production location has changed. The brand was founded in 1899 and built a reputation for hand-tailored quality, but in 2023, production of the "Hickey Freeman" label moved to Mexico, while the former U.S. factory now operates as Rochester Tailored Clothing (RTC).

• Past reputation:
  For over a century, Hickey Freeman was a Rochester, NY-based brand synonymous with luxury menswear due to its high-quality, hand-tailored construction.
  
  
• Brand change:
  In May 2023, it was announced that the "Hickey Freeman" brand label itself would be manufactured in Mexico, under new ownership that did not renew its license with the original factory.
  
  
• New identity:
  The company's Rochester factory was rebranded as Rochester Tailored Clothing (RTC) and continues to make high-quality, American-made suits, though under a new name and with a focus on its heritage and craftsmanship.

Gone from Hand Made in the USA to production line in Mexico. Its just not the same.

cwpayton said:

Really nice lookin mule. Is that a pecan tree in the background?

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Thanks. Lou was a great looking mule, she always drew a crowd, mostly cuz she was so big and gentle. Perfect, smooth gait and sharp as a whip when it came to hunting. She’d alert on animals long before I saw them.

Definitely pecan trees in the background. That was at my buddy’s place out near Bastrop, Texas.

Ed Z

MedRiver said:

OH, it is a "Wade" tree. More of a buckaroo style. It was built for me by Grizzly Saddlery in Great Falls, Montana back around 2001.

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I was wondering if that was Jeff’s work. He does a good job.

CM McKenzie said:

I was wondering if that was Jeff’s work. He does a good job.

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Yeah, my dad and I have very similar rigs that Jeff made. Zero complaints with the quality/craftsmanship.

Mine wasn’t used much for several years but got back into hunting horseback and it gets out regularly now.




This was back the first fall I had it many years (and pounds) ago!