About Vintage Focus

Who Are We?

To contact us:

Vintage Focus
P O Box 365
Cornish Flat, NH 03746 USA

email: help@vintagefocus.com
website: www.vintagefocus.com

Human contact: Bill Cable 1-603-675-2218

The Idea Is Born

We started riding motorcycles in 1965. At first it was largely a financial decision because we could not afford a car and the gas to make it go. Being in Florida it was not difficult to ride year around so motorcycles were very practical for anyone on a budget. But eventually traveling by motorcycle became something we wanted to do even if we had a car. A lifelong bond was created. There were so many models we liked and wanted to own. As time passed we settled down and had to give priority to other needs but we always kept our connection to motorcycles alive.

In December 2002 the idea for Vintage Focus began to take form. By then we had been able to turn more of our attention back to motorcycles. We found ourselves able to afford a few vintage project bikes that we had always wanted to own and ride. There seemed to be an abundance of old bikes that had been sitting in garages and basements and barns for decades. With the internet and ebay we could connect with others who shared these same interests. Attending the 2002 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days at the MidOhio Track was the final straw. It seemed a shame not to make an effort to document these events and the bikes people brought to them. So we got a few simple digital cameras and began searching out interesting events we could attend and photograph. We thought it would be great to try and document these events and at the same time create a comprehensive photographic database of every make and model we came across.

We created Vintage Focus whose primary mission is to photograph as many motorcycles each year as possible so that we will be able to create our comprehensive motorcycle photographic database. This has been progressing well. We are now taking around 30,000 photographs a year. We continue to improve our equipment and techniques. We are still mostly limited to motorcycle events along the eastern US but at least we are often able to ride to the events by motorcycle. In 2007 we made it out to Half Moon Bay Legend of the Motorcycle in California and with a little good fortune we will travel a little more in 2008.

A seconday mission is to create interesting CDs and DVDs of our photographs to sell to help finance our primary mission. Over the past couple of years we have experimented with different ways to present our photographs on CDs and DVDs. We are happy to provide any format our customers want. We organize our photographs around the events the photographs come from. We always offer a CD of jpeg photographs of any event we photograph. If there is a demand we will also create a DVD slide show of the event that can be viewed on a TV. At the end of the year we create special groupings of photographs such as all Italian motorcycles or all Triumph motorcycles we photographed during the year. Information about where and when the photographs were made is provided but the individual photographs are not labeled. When motorcycles have identifying labels they are also photographed so precise identification can be made. Otherwise the photographs themselves usually provide enough clues to at least roughly identify the make and models. We often take 16 photos of a single motorcycle that will provide great detail from almost every angle. On the CDs the photos are 1280x960 jpeg files which can be viewed and printed. There is usually a 1000 or more photos on a CD. The DVDs use the same photographs in a movie slideshow format. Each slide lasts for 2 seconds and then transitions into the next slide. There is quality background music to enjoy too. Most of the DVDs run close to 90 minutes. We think most motorcycle enthusiasts will find something to enjoy in our CDs and DVDs.

Vintage Focus is primarily made up of an owner, Bill Cable, who lives in New Hampshire

Bill Cable about to get very wet at Yankee Beemers Larz Anderson 2003

and nonpaid consultant, Rick Cable, who lives in Florida.
Rick Cable catching the Guzzi bug at Daytona 2003

We are brothers and have been riding cycles since 1965 and have owned quite a collection over the years.

It so happens that Bill Cable and his family live off grid with solar panels and wind generators. All the CDs and DVDs we create and sell are burned from sun and wind power (sun burned and wind burned).

Some of motorcycles we rode to events in 2006
1961 BMW R60 on the way back from BMW rally Essex Junction VT

1978 Moto Morini 3 1/2 Strada on the way to Western Maine European MC Meet Bethel ME

1978 Suzuki GN400 on the way to VJMC BBQ Lunenburg MA

1988 Moto Guzzi Mille GT at the AMCA Meet Eustis FL

1988 BMW K75S at the AMCA Meet Oley PA

More Details About Us

We are not affiliated with any events we attend or any organization. Our primary goal is to photograph motorcycles in all situations possible. We also try to document details of events we attend to give an impression of what it was like to be there. Our definition of motorcycle is broad. We like big bikes and little bikes and mopeds and scooters and sidecar rigs. Our definition of vintage motorcycle is somewhat vague but cycles of the 1950 to 1980 period fit the general category. But we like all motorcycles and motorcycle riders and take photographs of everything motorcycle related. So you can expect to see a lot of vintage bikes and some of everything else on our CDs and DVDs. Bikes in perfect condition are fun to see but a favorite of ours is a good running bike that has not been restored and is a little rusty and dusty. We also do not mind people and objects partly in the way. We photograph around the hustle and bustle of motorcycles being used and enjoyed.

All photographs we take are copyrighted and may not be used for any commercial purpose without our written permission. You are encouraged to use our photos as you like for personal use. Clubs and newsletters and personal web pages can use up to 20 photos from a CD for a single use. Outright copying of our CDs or using large numbers of photographs for non-personal use without permission is frowned upon. We sell our CDs and DVDs at a very reasonable price and they are easily available from our website or ebay. Purchasing the CDs and DVDs from us ensures that we can continue to do what we are doing and improve the quality of what we do.

We take our photographs at public events much like newspaper photographers do. We generally do not identify people in our photos as we focus on the cycles. So we usually do not ask permission to take pictures. If you find yourself in one of our photographs and do not wish to have it included on our CDs just let us know and we will remove it. We understand that it is the people who ride and restore the motorcycles who are the most important part of any event and we are happy to include personal information about the owners if requested.

DISCLAIMER

We try to make sure all the information on our CDs and DVDs is correct. We will correct mistakes for future editions if you let us know about any mistakes. If you find a photograph of yourself on a CD or DVD and object then let us know and we will remove it from future editions. We do our best to protect all digital data we handle but accidents and equipment failures can happen. We will only refund what we charged for our products and services and are not liable beyond that. If that is not acceptable then please do not use our services.

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