ORIGINAL: Gazzer
If I was able to take a count of all the Jet type manufacturing companies that started when someone first thought of it, and look at whose in it now, one name would be there pretty much from the beginning until now.
I got the tour of the factory and was hosted by Uncle Bob and in the short time I met him, I realised one thing. He doesn't do this for fun but probably gets enjoyment out of it, he is looking to make money and pass this on to his family in due course, as I suspect he will never retire.
ET will agree with me, the death knell of most good British inventions was the arrogance that it did not need to evolve and change, and adapt to marker pressures. BV on the ohter hand ismuch smarter than that. Yes you pay a premium for his products, but that does not make them bad value when you consider that they all work and hit the mark. Sure some standards vary from time to time, but consistently the products perform.
Its a bit like a Heptathlon event. To win, you need to be good at everything and consistent, some may be better at running and jumping, but your pretty good at them all.
Everything he does is researched, his is a champion of marketing in this sector, he is the master of a comment here and there, and he in my view is stubborn, mind made up and on he goes, hang the consequences.
It is of no surprise to me at all that with EDF at the level of development that it is, then he can jump in and sustain his business, whether he mixes current available products, has others build items for him, or does it all himself, you will find a working product, in good order that is pretty good at everything, but not the quickest, lightest, greatest duration etc etc.
If wanted to be buy shares in a model venture, I would buy BV shares, not all shareholding is done for popularity but for solid consistent performance.
I hope he and remember there are a number of good people at BV, does push some boundaries, finds a new way improves on engineering etc, it will give everyone fresh impetus to beat him.
With a shed full still to build, I look forward to the outcome, and yes, for me, I would find it easier to go for the BV package of goodies, the "Go Fly" price, as its all in the box...
Gazzer
Great post!
I will add this, though:
I have NEVER thought of BVM products as being the "old reliable ford four door" stuff...his stuff, to me, was ALWAYS high performance. A cut above the competition. Much of what you were paying as a premium was worth it, because his stuff was BETTER. And I would say that this solution seems pretty un-BVM-like. But, hey, people will buy it anyway.
And kudos to K. Sonn...for those who think BVM is breaking ANY new ground here, "plug and play" or otherwise, well, you have not been following large EDF development, and it's kind of a slap in the face to the guys who have actually put in the time and the energy and the development for you to suddenly give Bob Violett credit for their work.