To the very many people who have simply said "thank you", including those who wrote on the little note thingy on the bottom of the payment check, we sincerely acknowledge your "thank you" and raise you one. THANK YOU BACK!
There are too many to print, but let's just mention: Jay, John, Victoria, J.W., Jim Y., Carole, Phillip, Jack, Nancy, Andy, Dan S., Jack S., Tim L., Manuel, Jennifer and Mark R.
Another note: I have used good journalistic form below and not included much identifying information, because it would be a lot of work to go back and get permission from each correspondent to publish their full names. So, I'm using the semi-anonymous format of "Ron L." and so on as a compromise.
To Mark: you're welcome! no, we don't use the "lil' river" for fly-fishing but thanks for suggestion! Summer went great!
To Allyson P.: thanks for your many thank you's! you're always welcome! don't forget, we deliver (sometimes)!
To Jeff: many thanks for your notes and your great attitude. we know you're in a competitive market and we appreciate that you take the time to choose and use our products!
To Ron L.: You wrote: "Thanks for the great service". Not a problem! As long as Big Brown has trucks on the road, we're good to go!
To Marva: We love your thank-you cards! (Marva takes the time to use a cut-off of a recent wallpaper project as her "card". These are always interesting designs, and..........how appropriate!)
To Mary B: You thanked us for our advice. Not a problem!
To Brian M.: You said "...thank you, the paper was just what I was looking for..." You're welcome!
To Ric F: You said "...your company is a breath of fresh air. My order was small and I still got it in 2 days with a "hand written" invoice. I hope my payment reaches you as quickly..." Not a problem, Ric!
To Patti: You wrote: "...Patrick enjoyed your book, and said you are a true professional paperhanger..." Aw shucks.....thanks Patti!
To Grady: You wrote: "...I received the order yesterday. Very quick turnaround. 5 days! Thanks for the blue blades..." You're welcome! For those who don't know, 5 days
is quick...for shipping from New England to the Midwest by truck!
To Bill R.: You wrote: "...your product is great!" Thanks, Bill! We think so, too!
To M.L.: You wrote: "...thanks for the great service. The paste worked great with my Bradbury and Bradbury border. Thanks also for the extra paste. It will be put to good use, either at my home or for others in the neighborhood who are using high quality papers." Not a problem! thank you back!
To Robert G.: You wrote: "...thanks for your help - project is going great!" So good to hear, especially since this is a Zuber we're talking about! We love to hear this news!
To Sonja: You wrote: "...thank you for such prompt service! Worked beautifully..." Great!
To Tim: You wrote thanking us and saying "...this was a fun project - I did the interiors of book cases with this material..." and sharing a small sample of the $5,000 per panel extravaganza wallcovering. Thanks!
To Jeff P.: you wrote: "...thanks. Your stuff is great!" Aw, shucks! We're tryin'!
To Mike B.: we really appreciate your nice notes. you wrote recently: "...job turned out great! Customer appreciated the xtra effort." What a nice sentiment. That's what it's all about!
David W. wrote: "Thanks Bob for your help. I hope to call you soon for another order". That makes two of us, David! Thanks for the note!
Lastly, I wanted to give a very special shoutout to my bud Elliot Peterson. For those who don't know, Elliott is a Connecticut paperhanger who went to the U.S. School and just recently he gifted me with a box of old paperhanging tools. His is a familiar story: "Years back a family I was working for had a box of old wallpapering tools. The wife said her father was a wallpaper hanger for many years. They have been sitting in my basement since then. I thought maybe you might use them on one of your historical installations. They certainly look old...."
Now that I'm getting old and historical myself, maybe I appreciate them even more! My buddy in the Midwest, Don Leetz, without question one of the master paperhangers, has also sent many great old tools and instruction manuals my way. Don started hanging in the NY area after a stint with the merchant marines in WWII, so he has some history under his belt, for sure.
Some of these tools from Elliott are really special. to wit: natural bristle sweep # 1541; calcimine brush; "Acorn" trimming tool; marbelized handle seam roller; bakelite or similar seam roller # 210; serrated-edge trimmer # 75; and a large-handled steel trimmer. The marbelized handle seam roller in particular is CHERRY. Thanks, Elliott!
Speaking of tools, I have to mention two others who collect and appreciate paperhanging tools: Tim Bodine of St. Louis, and the inimitable Doug Hudson of Rochester, NY. Both of these guys are likely to go out of their way to pick up antique tools! No yard sale is safe!
