Re: (ET) ETs After Bill Gunn

["daveb" <daveb seanet com>]

  While we'll all miss Bill's knowledge and expertise; as I look back on 
my 
short ETrak ownership experience I realize that most of the answers, 
encouragement and inspiration came from all of you.  

  Bill was there for the odd part and specific knowledge he is/was the 
restorer's godsend that's for sure.  I suppose too for those of us who 
just 
want to mow the grass or clear the drive of snow, but let's not sell our 
collective knowledge and expertise short.  

  I think what Darryl is proposing will go a long way to filling the void 
left by Bill G's well deserved retirement.  It could also make us a 
stronger 
more independent org/list, not dependent on one person's knowledge.  I 
like 
the idea of a collective effort, of the website FAQ, tips, resources, 
substitute parts and updated electrics like the Altrax controller.

  Done collectively and with forthought it could outlive all of us. And in 
turn each of us having contributed to it will live on long after our 
passing.
I'll stop here before I get too philosophical.  

All I really want/need to say is I like and will support anyway I can 
Darryl's suggestion.  I would be glad to help in the compilation, 
formatting 
and uploading of a FAQ and resource list.

dave
seattle

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Open WebMail Project (http://openwebmail.org)


---------- Original Message -----------
From: "Darryl McMahon" <darryl econogics com>
To: elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu
Sent: Tue, 25 May 2004 18:00:04 -0400
Subject: (ET) ETs After Bill Gunn

> Bill's departure from the scene will be a real loss to all of us.  I 
> ordered from him several times, and had conversations about 
> continuity of the Elec-Trak part of his business a couple of times,
>  probably 3-4 years ago now.
> 
> I am not prepared to just send my ET off to the scrap yard because 
> Bill is moving on to (an undoubtedly well-deserved) retirement.
> 
> So, I think there are a couple of things we can do in the short term.
> 
> Following up on Ken Stieg's post, we can start a list of alternate 
replacement
> parts.  I had started something like this years ago, but let it 
> slide in favour of directing the business to Bill.  However, with 
> the recent news, I think that should be resurrected.  I think Don 
> Barry's site (elec-trak.org) is the appropriate place for that, but 
> if Don is too busy, I will take on compiling the list and putting it 
> on my website.  (I may be behind the times, but I seem to recall 
> that Don was not keeping up at the site - not a criticism, I'm in no 
> position to throw stones - just my recollection.  I also don't know 
> if Don would be prepared to farm out parts of the maintenance chores.)
> 
> The thing we will really miss will be Bill's knowledge and 
> expertise.  I don't think there is any way to replace that, but as a 
> poor substitute, we could create a Repair & Troubleshooting FAQ area 
> with problems encountered and fixed (which may often lead us back to 
> the various manuals - some of which are on-line now - and presumably 
> more can be in the future, or the list of alternate parts sources listed
> above).  Again, I think elec-trak.org is the right place for this 
> information as well.  I'm not volunteering to organize or compile 
> this list, but if someone else will, and Don won't take on putting 
> it on the web, I will take that on as well. Beyond that, I expect 
> this list will end up taking up the slack, and someone should take 
> on harvesting new information that appears here and adding it to the 
> R&T FAQs.
> 
> I have nothing to offer regarding taking over any existing inventory 
> or trying to set up a co-op.  I have worked in such arrangements 
> before, and I know they are a lot of work.
> 
> Better ideas and volunteers welcomed.
> 
> Darryl
> 
> --
> Darryl McMahon      http://www.econogics.com/
> It's your planet.  If you won't look after it, who will?
> 
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> Elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu
> https://cosmos.phy.tufts.edu/mailman/listinfo/elec-trak
------- End of Original Message -------