Simultaneous development

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concours

concours

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Everyone knows about the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk, NC.

Who knows about Glenn Curtiss at Hammondsport, NY?

(Yes, it's relevant to Commandos)
 
I'm guessing it has something to do with this:

www.accessnorton.com

Just the facts. Sump plug breather

It has come to my attention that JS has copied my sump plug breather and now has it available on his website. My original sump plug breather is available on the NYC website. He had posted this in an attempt to justify copying my design, and then he took it down. I spoke to Leo at length...
www.accessnorton.com www.accessnorton.com

Interestingly, I found THIS thread from 2016 (pay attention to post 1, line 4):

www.accessnorton.com

Dragster & tuner Leo Goff (2016)

Had a recent talk with Leo Goff He started out on a street legal P11 that he rode himself and was getting 110 mph in the 11s. (Leo on his P11 below) Leo is a big boy so he let someone else ride his bikes and went on to dominating his class (750 gas). Told me his 750 achieved 140MPH in the ¼...
www.accessnorton.com www.accessnorton.com

Not taking sides here, but I still think the optics are bad and could have been avoided with a simple phone call or email in advance.
 
History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it.

This line is attributed to Winston Churchill, but, uh, he didn't actually say it. The gist is the same, though. Here's what he actually said: "For my part, I consider that it will be found much better by all Parties to leave the past to history, especially as I propose to write that history"
 
MikeG said:
History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it.

This line is attributed to Winston Churchill, but, uh, he didn't actually say it. The gist is the same, though. Here's what he actually said: "For my part, I consider that it will be found much better by all Parties to leave the past to history, especially as I propose to write that history"
Click to expand...
Lady: "Sir, you are drunk!". Churchill: "Madam, you are ugly. But, tomorrow I will be sober"
Lady: "If you were my husband, I would shoot you". Churchill: "Madam, if I were your husband, I would shoot myself".
Or something like that :)
 
Mart UK said:
Lady: "Sir, you are drunk!". Churchill: "Madam, you are ugly. But, tomorrow I will be sober"
Lady: "If you were my husband, I would shoot you". Churchill: "Madam, if I were your husband, I would shoot myself".
Or something like that :)
Click to expand...
Lady Aster wasn’t it? Or my mother in law :D
 
There is no winning side to this, so there is no advantage in taking one.

Somewhat relevant, I developed, marketed and sold a device to solve a somewhat simple problem in my professional field. It was patent-able, but I chose not to, as the process for applying for, and defending a patent in this country is broken-- FULL STOP. The little problem solver was picked up by the industry at large, and has become an industry standard. In order to truly have a patent (if the product even qualifies, after a lengthy and expensive search by a patent attorney), you must defend it, so you must be on the lookout for infringers, and pay a lawyer to send out cease and desist orders, and go to court. For something like what I developed or what each of the two gents claims, if you work hard and smart you just might be privileged and blessed enough with the honor of breaking even!

To say I got nothing from the industry "adoption" of my idea is false. I am lucky enough to have my own business working in my "tin pole barn", doing things that interest me every day for myself. I went at it hard in the first few years, tying my name to the idea, and moved on to the next idea.

If you're not going to file a patent on an idea, but assume humanity will leave it and you alone, and let you make your money in peace, you are foolish. You can look at the opportunities in life (handed to or created by you), or you can make yourself bitter, thinking of all the people who have stolen from you. Your life, your call.

All the above is assuming malevolent behavior from another party. It just might be true that two people working on the same problem come up with the same solution. Guys who work alone in their "tin pole barns" are not known for their personability (hand raised), so saying, "so-and-so should have done this-and-that" uses the 20/20 hindsight, 10,000ft view, that a guy in his "tin pole barn" may not have.

It's only shitty old motorcycles.

Peace.
 
concours said:
^ My Father held four original US Patents. Turning that into income was entirely another matter. Your words ring true.
Click to expand...
This American Life did a great story on the modern patent disaster. It's available to stream. Well worth a listen.
 
patent anything you like these days...the Chinese will still copy it and sell it for less and most consumers will buy it because it saves them $$
 
MikeG said:
patent anything you like these days...the Chinese will still copy it and sell it for less and most consumers will buy it because it saves them $$
Click to expand...
The folks who copied my idea first were white dudes from Minnesota who produced in China (who were extraordinarily uncomfortable when I ran into them right after their "new product" release), but I guess it's comforting to think that it's "an other" to take advantage.
 
Mart UK said:
Lady: "Sir, you are drunk!". Churchill: "Madam, you are ugly. But, tomorrow I will be sober"
Lady: "If you were my husband, I would shoot you". Churchill: "Madam, if I were your husband, I would shoot myself".
Or something like that :)
Click to expand...
Lady Nancy Astor "Winston, if you were my husband I would poison your tea"

"Nancy, if I were your husband I would drink it"
 
What about Marconi and Tesla over wireless transmission? That is probably the most famous. Marconi's patent was later overturned in favor of Tesla by the supreme court (from what I've learned).
 
Last edited:
It could be worse, you blokes could have been the young German dudes who developed what is now known as google earth, which was stolen from them by Google. This product is now worth billions of dollars a year. Put things in perspective gentleman it's a sump breather with a very finite consumer base, move on or at least have your argument in private. In my opinion there is to much marketing taking place on this forum already. lets get back to helping each other solve issues on our bikes and stop bitching about crap. Us general punters don't care who invented the wheel, we just want a wheel that fits our bike.
 
t ingermanson said:
There is no winning side to this, so there is no advantage in taking one.

Somewhat relevant, I developed, marketed and sold a device to solve a somewhat simple problem in my professional field. It was patent-able, but I chose not to, as the process for applying for, and defending a patent in this country is broken-- FULL STOP. The little problem solver was picked up by the industry at large, and has become an industry standard. In order to truly have a patent (if the product even qualifies, after a lengthy and expensive search by a patent attorney), you must defend it, so you must be on the lookout for infringers, and pay a lawyer to send out cease and desist orders, and go to court. For something like what I developed or what each of the two gents claims, if you work hard and smart you just might be privileged and blessed enough with the honor of breaking even!

To say I got nothing from the industry "adoption" of my idea is false. I am lucky enough to have my own business working in my "tin pole barn", doing things that interest me every day for myself. I went at it hard in the first few years, tying my name to the idea, and moved on to the next idea.

If you're not going to file a patent on an idea, but assume humanity will leave it and you alone, and let you make your money in peace, you are foolish. You can look at the opportunities in life (handed to or created by you), or you can make yourself bitter, thinking of all the people who have stolen from you. Your life, your call.

All the above is assuming malevolent behavior from another party. It just might be true that two people working on the same problem come up with the same solution. Guys who work alone in their "tin pole barns" are not known for their personability (hand raised), so saying, "so-and-so should have done this-and-that" uses the 20/20 hindsight, 10,000ft view, that a guy in his "tin pole barn" may not have.

It's only shitty old motorcycles.

Peace.
Click to expand...
Well a patent was never considered and I never dreamed that my posting would change anything as far as anyone copying my product. Some people will copy and some won't -patent or not.
I just wanted the facts surrounding the product to be known.
Nothing more from me. Jim
 
outawack said:
It could be worse, you blokes could have been the young German dudes who developed what is now known as google earth, which was stolen from them by Google. This product is now worth billions of dollars a year. Put things in perspective gentleman it's a sump breather with a very finite consumer base, move on or at least have your argument in private. In my opinion there is to much marketing taking place on this forum already. lets get back to helping each other solve issues on our bikes and stop bitching about crap. Us general punters don't care who invented the wheel, we just want a wheel that fits our bike.
Click to expand...

Well, then here is a perspective for you.

The world wide Vintage Norton Commando market is in fact very small. So because of that, the customer base is extremely valuable to all of us that have dedicated most our lives to offer product and services for these great machines. So don't minimize the importance of issues like these just because they aren't at the level of international mega organizations. Google doesn't make any parts for the Commando that I know of so I could not care any less about them.

Selling a few more parts this month may mean the difference between being in the Black versus Red. For many, it's a roller coaster ride.

As far as marketing, I agree that it would be good to have a separate area for vendors where we could introduce and promote new product we have made available. That said, there is no such sub area at this time so we will go on the general forum when we want to share something that may help someone out with their bike. Don't forget that the small companies involved with these bikes are a big part of figuring out how to solve the issues you mention. There are guys that have shared an incredible amount of knowledge on this forum over the years never asking for anything in return other than wanting to be considered when you need something they may have available to sell

Matt
 
cNw said:
Well, then here is a perspective for you.

The world wide Vintage Norton Commando market is in fact very small. So because of that, the customer base is extremely valuable to all of us that have dedicated most our lives to offer product and services for these great machines. So don't minimize the importance of issues like these just because they aren't at the level of international mega organizations. Google doesn't make any parts for the Commando that I know of so I could not care any less about them.

Selling a few more parts this month may mean the difference between being in the Black versus Red. For many, it's a roller coaster ride.

As far as marketing, I agree that it would be good to have a separate area for vendors where we could introduce and promote new product we have made available. That said, there is no such sub area at this time so we will go on the general forum when we want to share something that may help someone out with their bike. Don't forget that the small companies involved with these bikes are a big part of figuring out how to solve the issues you mention. There are guys that have shared an incredible amount of knowledge on this forum over the years never asking for anything in return other than wanting to be considered when you need something they may have available to sell

Matt
Click to expand...
You are much more eloquent in responding to such a bombastic and judgemental comment than I would have been.
Well said.
 
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