Discussion
I haven't seen this mentioned elsewhere , so it is worth my mentioning that Tom Karen has died , aged 96. Most famous now for the Bond Bug, the Raleigh Chopper and the Scimitar GTE he was an astonishingly productive and creative man. I cannot recommend his autobiography , Toymaker, too highly. I reviewed it a year or so ago and found it both fascinating and enchanting . An extraordinary life story (he came to the UK as a Czech refugee) and he was still working in his nineties.
Edited by coppice on Wednesday 4th January 09:41
I've only just noticed this. 3 measly mentions. 4 now with mine.
Not surprised at his death, he's lived long. But what a man, eh? I agree about the book being superb, but never understood the reasoning for the title being restricted to something as short as 'Toymaker' (the sub 'From War to Wonder' struck me as weird - how could it attract readers who didn't know of him or his background or work?
'Toymaker'? He was so much more than that. Let's face it, the 'Chopper' bike was/is hardly a 'toy', yeah, for kids but it was a total innovation - like so much of his work. The Reliant 'Rogue' becoming the 'Bond Bug', what great names. One can go on.
So vastly underrated, his death should have been front page and national news.
Fair bit about Karen in some of the books I've published in years past, but you won't find any other book all about 'him' specifically. Any true Pistonhead should have 'Toymaker' in their library.
It's a superb book as intimated by Coppice.
All about a 'genius', a word never to be used lightly.
And there is no excuse not to buy a copy as it's a similar price to much of the 'mass market' rubbish out there. The ones which fill bookshops at the now popular retail price of 20 quid these days and then end up in Poundland or bargain basement shops.
I paid far less for my copy but now wished I'd got a signed copy.
Talking of mass market rubbish (imo) take the new Prince Harry so-called 'bestseller'
'Spare' at £28 retail.
Coincidentally, it's the same extent 416pp hardback and same dimensions as 'Toymaker', but there ends any similarity.
Not surprised at his death, he's lived long. But what a man, eh? I agree about the book being superb, but never understood the reasoning for the title being restricted to something as short as 'Toymaker' (the sub 'From War to Wonder' struck me as weird - how could it attract readers who didn't know of him or his background or work?
'Toymaker'? He was so much more than that. Let's face it, the 'Chopper' bike was/is hardly a 'toy', yeah, for kids but it was a total innovation - like so much of his work. The Reliant 'Rogue' becoming the 'Bond Bug', what great names. One can go on.
So vastly underrated, his death should have been front page and national news.
Fair bit about Karen in some of the books I've published in years past, but you won't find any other book all about 'him' specifically. Any true Pistonhead should have 'Toymaker' in their library.
It's a superb book as intimated by Coppice.
All about a 'genius', a word never to be used lightly.
And there is no excuse not to buy a copy as it's a similar price to much of the 'mass market' rubbish out there. The ones which fill bookshops at the now popular retail price of 20 quid these days and then end up in Poundland or bargain basement shops.
I paid far less for my copy but now wished I'd got a signed copy.
Talking of mass market rubbish (imo) take the new Prince Harry so-called 'bestseller'
'Spare' at £28 retail.Coincidentally, it's the same extent 416pp hardback and same dimensions as 'Toymaker', but there ends any similarity.
Edited by dandarez on Wednesday 4th January 21:01
Hear hear . But I think Ken Block is getting all the ...err... thoughts and prayers action at present ...
I , too , wondered about the title - it is hardly SEO reasons surely ? Such a gifted and delightful man -maybe the title was his choosing to reflect his innate playfulness? I do hope he gets the obituaries he deserves - he was 'The man who designed the Seventies ' after all .
I , too , wondered about the title - it is hardly SEO reasons surely ? Such a gifted and delightful man -maybe the title was his choosing to reflect his innate playfulness? I do hope he gets the obituaries he deserves - he was 'The man who designed the Seventies ' after all .
Quite a life, a proper industrial designer, like Kenneth Grange, who spent his time doing stuff rather than talking about it.
Tom Karen is much more deserving of attention to his passing than most. But as is the way of the world, the people who make most noise get most attention, regardless of talent or actual achievement.
Tom Karen is much more deserving of attention to his passing than most. But as is the way of the world, the people who make most noise get most attention, regardless of talent or actual achievement.
Just found this - quite a bice piece, albeit buried in a local news section on the BBC:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshi...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshi...
There was a slot about him on BBC Breakfast this morning, including a visit to this mini exhibition:
https://www.letchworth.com/museum/tom-karen-creati...
https://www.letchworth.com/museum/tom-karen-creati...
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