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Re: Anyone seen the FIM(First Impression Music)Isolation bearings?

Posted by Mr. Walker (A) on October 21, 2004 at 13:26:58

In Reply to: Anyone seen the FIM(First Impression Music)Isolation bearings? posted by Keith Lockwood on October 20, 2004 at 15:26:55:

Keith,

The name calling is funny in an obtuse kind of way, but I'm worried people are going to start thinking you really mean it. I've known Fred Volz for a while, and I'm sure you two would have a great time knocking back a six of Coors and listening to some badass multichannel, united by your common passion for isobearing technology and small balls that roll around in a shallow metal cup.

I actually thought Fred's point was pretty simple: while no one's going to care if you copy a patented design in the privacy of your own listening room, once you start mass production and distribution, you're going to ruffle a few feathers, law and order starts to break down, and civilization as we know it will eventually grind to a halt.

Bdiament has essentially said the same thing, though taking a somewhat narrower view. According to his posts, he nixed plans to sell Hip Joints commercially when his attorney advised him it was probably illegal. The conversation later that evening must have been interesting: "Honey, the good news is I've succeeded in duplicating a great technology for draining and dissipating vibratory energy. The bad news is I may have to complete my experimentation from a cot in Leavenworth . . . “ In any case, group buyers should note that the only reason they can get the specs to make Hip Joints in bulk is because the designer thought about doing the same thing and took a pass.

Of course, I fancy myself a bit of a roller bearing renegade as well, and support my equipment on Daruma Isolation Bearings, which for all I know is outlaw Japan's way of striking back at protectionism in the U.S. steel industry. Soon the Japanese will be making Darumas that are "truly size of postage stamp," and whether this is a patent violation only time will tell. Until then, a sense of fair play, among customers, if not manufacturers, is the only thing that will stop the blatant commercial imitators.

Mr. Walker

"The turntables might wobble but they don't fall down."

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Kimber Kable

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