Profile: Allen Malmin - Builder / Customizer

I've written about Al before . .  (Post: Dec 3, 2011).  We spent a morning this year at Sturgis together checkin' out some chops . . . I'm getting to know him better and consider him a friend.  He called me to stop out and add some color to his latest Rigid Shovel Chop, built as a tribute to our veterans.  Al's shop is fully equipped with everything you need to build first class rides.  The more Al opens up on his past, the more I realize his talent.  Al won best custom motorcycle at the prestigious Oakland Roadster Show in the early 70s.  He had his own shop in Oakland.  He's worked with Sonny (yes that one) and rode on the Bass Lake Runs.  Not one to toot his own horn - you have to kinda squeeze it out of him.  Many of his stories end with " Don't know what ever happen to him, I know he went to jail for murder or something?"   Al was there in the California bay-area hay days of chopperdome.  A few more pics I got from his walls . . .

When you talk to these "old dudes" you think you know all your history.  Like, who was the first to do this - or do that . . . On many occasions, Al says, "Hey, we were doing it for like 3 or 4 years before that . . ."  His twisted sissy bars (which he utilizes a large engine lathe for torching and twisting) are straight and totally cool. His narrow, twisted springers were hand-made. 

Many of his paint jobs were done by this cat they called "Diver."  Diver could paint (on-the-run) meaning he probably had a shop, but he'd come to your shop.  He would do the art work, etc - and it would always turn out totally killer.  Like crazy.  Wow !    Above Photo:  I asked Allen if he still had that shirt ? (that got away, but he still has and wears the pants !)

As I loaded up my paint box, gathered my stuff, grabbed my cash and drove off . . . I felt like I actually owed him money for sharing a history that money can't buy.  I feel the same way when I leave the shops of Bob Spina, Lil' Joe, Willard, DA, Dick Post, Jeff Wiley . . . . What we can learn from the history of our craft and the one's that paved that road - is something no amount of money can ever purchase. More updates on Al's latest creation later . . .