A Visual Eulogy for the Waterford Factory
A quick look at "Closure," a new photo book by Tucker Schwinn documenting the intimate final days and dismantling of the iconic Waterford bicycle factory.
I was immediately struck by the announcement of Closure: The Final Days of the Waterford Bicycle Factory. We often celebrate the launch of new products and brands, but how often do we thoughtfully document their end? This isn't just another coffee table book with glamour shots of finished bikes. It's a 240-page photographic essay chronicling the final days and the actual dismantling of an iconic American framebuilding shop.
What makes this project so compelling is the perspective. The photographer, Tucker Schwinn, wasn't just an outsider; he co-managed the factory and is part of the family legacy. This proximity promises an intimate look, not at polished products, but at the "portraits of machines, process, and textures that only come from decades of use." It feels less like a catalog and more like a historical record—a visual eulogy for a specific kind of American craft. I'm incredibly curious to see the patina and personality of a place just before it’s gone forever.
