Well I think its a bloody shame that these days the phrase " Made in England " stamped on a mechanical product all too often means that its a poorly designed and made piece of junk. If England had always made shit, then it would be understandable. But why oh why have they gone backwards ? They used to make bloody beautiful tools and Japan made crap. Now its the other way round.
I have a cheap Taiwanese drill press made 25 years ago. Its a piece of shit but its OK for general back shed work. The very latest ones comming out from Taiwan are just as crappy. They haven't progressed an atom - but at least they've maintained there low quality ! But the English machine tools being made now are bloody awful and full price. One big problem is the slap-dash attention to finish and detail. There's no pride left in being a top tradesman in Britain it seems to me from the stuff comming out of there.
I blame bloody universities for glamourising the so-called professions. Doctors, lawyers, acr-eh-tects and wankers who can spell architects - lets see you cut a double helical gear then eh ? Not as easy as you thought !
British Engineering
British Engineering
Phwooorr...look at her....CRASH
Re: British Engineering
Interesting. A few years back I was involved in a manufacturing company and during '97 we were involved in a major project with a view to producing a key component ourselves rather than buying it in. I'll never forget when during one of the meetings with our designers they asked us, "What do you want us to do about in-built faults?"
We all stared blankly at them as we didn't know what the fuck they were on about but they were asking us in effect to consider building into the design parts which would break down after a certain period of time thus creating a demand for spare parts, service calls (Chargeable, as they would be out of guarantee by then) and other revenue generators.
I was pretty stunned but this is common practice, what a load of bollocks. Anyway we told them to forget in-built faults and design us a product that worked. Pretty radical thinking!
We all stared blankly at them as we didn't know what the fuck they were on about but they were asking us in effect to consider building into the design parts which would break down after a certain period of time thus creating a demand for spare parts, service calls (Chargeable, as they would be out of guarantee by then) and other revenue generators.
I was pretty stunned but this is common practice, what a load of bollocks. Anyway we told them to forget in-built faults and design us a product that worked. Pretty radical thinking!
Re: British Engineering
Didn't they also suggest that spare parts should only be available for a limited period?
I hope its still the case but Glynwed who make Parkray and Aga cookers once told me that their policy was to keep spare parts and instruction/repair manuals for all their models in stock for as long as the company existed.
Mart
I hope its still the case but Glynwed who make Parkray and Aga cookers once told me that their policy was to keep spare parts and instruction/repair manuals for all their models in stock for as long as the company existed.
Mart
Re: British Engineering
Bimmercat wrote:
> Still, i knew several peopel that owned Triumph TR-7s and
> TR-6s, MG Midgets and even some 70-80s model Jaguars and they
> were very unreliable automobiles. The electrical problems would
> drive the owners looney.
Yes, I've heard that too. I think Lucas Electrical used to do Jaguars' electrical bits and so the joke was " Lucas, Prince of Darkness ! "
> Still, i knew several peopel that owned Triumph TR-7s and
> TR-6s, MG Midgets and even some 70-80s model Jaguars and they
> were very unreliable automobiles. The electrical problems would
> drive the owners looney.
Yes, I've heard that too. I think Lucas Electrical used to do Jaguars' electrical bits and so the joke was " Lucas, Prince of Darkness ! "
Phwooorr...look at her....CRASH
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diplodocus
- Posts: 1319
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Re: British Engineering
it would be interesting to see if you were so disparaging about doctors if he/she was about to perform triple heart bypass surgery on you!
we are Leeds.... , and we can still beat the mighty Chester
Re: British Engineering
"Didn't they also suggest that spare parts should only be available for a limited period?"
They probably would have done but we pissed on their fireworks quite early on with regard to their brainwaves about in-built faults ("In-Built Faults!" I still struggle to get my head 'round that!). Any new project involving many moving parts, electricity and water flowing through it under high pressure (As our product did) has ample scope for disaster without designing in more!!
Personally I find Japanese products to be fantastic and their durability suggests that the Japanese don't particularly care for the concept of in-built faults much either!
They probably would have done but we pissed on their fireworks quite early on with regard to their brainwaves about in-built faults ("In-Built Faults!" I still struggle to get my head 'round that!). Any new project involving many moving parts, electricity and water flowing through it under high pressure (As our product did) has ample scope for disaster without designing in more!!
Personally I find Japanese products to be fantastic and their durability suggests that the Japanese don't particularly care for the concept of in-built faults much either!