Skills and age. We probably assume that the older people get the
more problems with their mental and physical capabilities.
Does this apply for skills? We have Van den Hul who at age
of above 70 keeps his skills in good condition by producing at
least one cart pro week. As is known his customers can order
whatever output they want. This means winding the coil wire
on those very small ''bobins'' differently. We have Axel the retipper
who is above 70 but got so many orders that he was not able
to accept all the work. We have the old master Mori san who
designed XL series MC carts for Sony. He make those SAS styli
for Jico which involve tension wire for MM carts. Those are more
difficult then MC tension wire. Technics 205 series styli are
irreparable because ot those tension wire. To exchage their
suspension the tension wire need to be removed but it can't
be put back. We also have Allaerts who make his own coils from
very thin gold wire. Look at the pictires of his coils to get ''the
picture''. Everyone who owns an ''open MC cart'' can see how
thin those coil wire are. Who would dear to touch them? But it is
impossible to wound those coils without touching them. The
answer is continious practice in order to keep the involved
skills in good condition. We all have the so called ''motor
cortex'' in our brain. This part with further brain connection
govern our muscles. Our fingers in particular. Looking at ''Pieta''
made by Michelangelo from a block of marble with chisels and
hamers. One can hardly believe that this work of art is made
with human hands. This context of skills may explain why we admire
old masters like Ikeda, Takeda, Sugano, Van den Hul , Lukatschek
(Benz) etc.