Stabilizer Manufacturers benifits from HBS members ideas

[Charles King]

Boy! am I seeing alot of new and refurbish commercial stabilizers using design features that have been created by lots of members in this group. Some of you new members might say it's the other way round but trust me when I say I know what I'm talking about. I've been around a long time and I know what I have seen and not seen. Others who have been with this forum from the early days will atest; Le, Phil, Franco to name just a few.

I'm not going to name those manufacturers but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to guess which stabilizer companies I'm referring to. It's all good though because now I really am convienced that they do look at this site for reference and ideas.

To all those companies that do, at least give this site, group and it's people some recognition. Of course they won't amit it but I guess that is expected 

I think Le said the same thing about a couple of years ago. Well, I'm glad that we, the members can create ideas for stabilizer manufacters to use for free. 

I guess that the great Garret Brown didn't know what he had started 

[Ed Liew]

hi charles,
not sure which company you are refering to but my hat off for all great ideas found here on your site. even with all these copyright issue, ideas on the web are just waiting to be use by others. but to make money out of someone else ideas is just not right. 

ed

[Charles King]

hi charles,
not sure which company you are refering to...

That's why I said I am not going to mention it. Those who have been with this group since the beginning will know. But thanks for the comment. Like I said, I'm proud of our little group.

I don't mind if they do, it's been going on for decades but like I said, a little mention would suffice but that's not going to happen. Boy I can remember the 'pool of shark thing...' I just gave a subtle hint

[Wing Gee]

even though i've been on this board for couple years. I have noticed stabilizers with similar designs to the ones here for sale. I guess it was bound to happen since were sharing so much creative ideas with each other.

[Tim Le]

Hi Charles, I think I know what you're talking about. I had a feeling the lower-tier manufacturers monitored this site but we now know at least one of the major ones do as well. I think this site is more useful to the lower-tier guys because at HBS we try to do things inexpensively or simply. The high-end guys use a totally different method and approach to design and manufacturer so they probably monitor us just for kicks.

[Charles King]

I figured you would know Le.

[Phil Kindred]

I am quite certain manufacturers look at the site.  It has  the reputation of being a place of ideas and innovations.  Those of us who have been here awhile value opinions and goals.  New voices appear and bring new ways at looking at many things.  My only concern is that  someone will steal my new idea--a bungee cord powered arm with a plate for a Cinnamon bun.  I had not better see an ad for the "New BungeeBun  Stabilizer" or I will be TICKED!!   

[Charles King]

Phil you kill me! 

[cosmin rotaru]

Of course ideas DO travel! 

I've just reread some old posts... So, my old arm I made in 2002! It's been three years since I build an arm! 

GOD! I miss building....

[Wade Francom]

Look at it this way.... who really does this out of passion for the project, than out of pursuance of profit? None of us here really do this to pursue any sort of a profit. I know for myself that 's a fact. I've built jibs, jibs with remote heads, stabilizers, dollies and more, but none of them have proven to be any sort of a money maker for me. And you know what? I couldn't give a shit. The payoff for me was in the bulding of each item. Sure, some of the ideas I used came from other people, but I can say that everyone is a product of an amalgum of ideas, mine, others, and more. Nobody in this forum does this for money. I can guarantee you that everyone is on this forum because they have a passion for coming up with a better solution to a problem.

So why do I say this? Why go through the expense of running an R & D department and going through all the other issues  you go through when you design and implement a product from scratch? The smaller manufacturers have an R & D department right here! They'll browse through here and when they see an idea they can implement into their own design, and then they'll claim the copyright on that idea. They use us to do their product development and claim it as their own.

The only thing we ask as engineers of our craft is that these smaller manufacturers, when they find an idea that is unique to this community of craftsmen, the respect us by letting us continue to do this, and when an idea is truly unique to us and ours, they give us credit where credit is due instead of stabbing the
gift horse in the back.

On the other side of the spectrum, the larger manufacturers have a budget for an R & D department. They view this community as a potential leak of their valued research to their smaller competitors. They view us as dangerous when they can see stuff being developed on par with their product that can be effectively snatched up by their competitor.  So, to compete with the smaller companies, larger ones will pusue any copyright issue they can, screw us (the true creative engineers of the craft) in the process, and laugh all the way to the bank with all the dough they reap off of their "unique" product.

In my opinion, the steadicam has gone the way of the toaster. Once their was only one. Now their are many. We've moved into a new playing field. Now, if a larger steadicam manufacturer wants to remain on top, they should embrace the likes of this community. They should gain the respect of the members of communities like this. Then, when respect is gained, ideas can be shared and developed in confidentiality, confidence, and respect between the creators and developers of ideas and those who want to make a profit on it.  We don't do enough in this community to do any real damage to the larger manufacturers. We don't steal any ideas to make big bucks, we develop ideas to follow our true dreams, to make film. We don't rip anyone off , just to sell an ilegitimate product for cheap. Not one of us has ever sold something they made off this site for the sake of making a penny. If what we are doing here in this community is taking an idea and making it better, and adding our unique vision to it, then there is only good in that, especially when they can glean as much information off of our ideas without fear of retribution. We make these stabilizers for a passion, not a penny.

Anyhow, enough of my b.s.. Now I'll just go back to my workbench and tinker away on my unique idea....Better hope no one finds out what I'm working on. Wouldn't want to share that with my competitors, now would I?

Awe, dammit Phil! You just stole my idea! Back to the drawing board then.

Wade

[Charles King]

Nicely put

[Phil Kindred]

Wade is right--we do it for the passion and satisfaction.  Even for the frustration, because out of the frustration usually comes answers.  I didn't know we were working on the same idea, Wade.  Maybe you could share with me--when I boom up, the butter tends to slide off the roll.  I suspect it is a dynamic balance issue or maybe the arm -vest connection,

[Wade Francom]

Yeah, I had the same problem. Sloppy butter configuration makes for messy cinnamon roll consumption. However, after I installed a coffee cup holder at the bottom of the post, and ran a dispensing tube up the post and down the arm, it counterbalanced pretty well. Plus, a more symetrical cinnamon roll, professionally cooked and machined, should be used.

Keep up the cullinary coolness!

[Phil Kindred]

I'll try that.  Always good to end the day with a laugh.

[Charles King]

You guys are nuts