[Sunbeam Talbot Email List] Fw: Bamforth Spares

Mon May 17 17:29:09 EDT 2010

Hi All,Over the last 30 I have restored a healey 100-6, a 58 corvette,a bristol AC,a xk 120 jag,and an Abath to concours level. I purchased my 55 Alpine at an auction and knew NOTHING about them. The Bamforths to me are a God send- the parts I purchased for my previous restorations were significantly more expensive than what Bamfoths are charging for parts. Even when I find parts on Ebay sold by private parties they command top dollar. It is simply the mechanics of supply and demand. Since these cars are so rare I am surprised that parts are not higher. I for one am willing to subsidize tooling- alot cheaper than custom made parts- why would we care if Bamforth makes some money? they could be our best freind to maintain our investments. MY OPINION. Reagrds Don Herr 

Date: Mon, 17 May 2010 11:47:42 +0100
From: creeler at googlemail.com
To: jimmy.gardner at ntlworld.com
CC: STAOwners at sunbeamtalbot.info
Subject: Re: [Sunbeam Talbot Email List] Fw: Bamforth Spares

Hi Bob

Well said James Gardner. For the benefit of those members on this list who are not members of STAR it might be of some interest to them, and indeed to some Star members from overseas, to know who Sunbeam Talbot Spares (aka "The Bamforths") are.

I first became a member of STAR in 1975 only a year or so before Tony Bamforth joined. After a few years I resigned as my interest has diverted to Morgans. Rejoining the Club some 3 years ago with a 90 MK IIA Saloon and then with a Ten Saloon necessitated many visits to the Bamforths emporium at Barnsley for spares and advice. Some 10 years ago, Tony who is a time served mechanic, helped by his two sons Simon and David who were then in their twenties, decided to take the plunge and buy the stock of Sunbeam Talbot Spares previously run by former member Colin Mumbray.

Those of us who are their customers have to realise that for us Sunbeam Talbot ownership is a pleasurable (sometimes) hobby, whilst for them it is their livelihood which involves hard graft to keep afloat. Tony, who like all of us is getting on a bit, only works part time. The business has not been able to support all three, and Simon has for some time been working in London and has now set up his own repair and restoration business there. The premises in Barnsley are not state of the art - see

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Haigh+Moor+Way+Royston,+Barnsley,+UK&sll=53.601572,-1.455045&sspn=0.008646,0.015063&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Haigh+Moor+Way,+Royston,+Barnsley,+United+Kingdom&ll=53.603622,-1.457384&spn=0,0.023239&z=16&layer=c&cbll=53.603707,-1.45732&panoid=UCkq21LSIraOJRVx2dvYvQ&cbp=12,125.59,,0,5.1

and only David and Tony work there.

My impression of them is that they are gradely folk, genuinely interested in and commited to the preservation of our cars, and, as James says, always prepared to give free advice. Their administration is sometimes not all that it should be, and folk on this list have complained from time to time about difficulties of communication either by phone or email. We must be prepared to cut them some slack as very often one or both are on their backs under a vehicle (they don't have a hoist yet) and answering a mobile phone from that position is not sometimes a priority!

I think that David would be the first to admit that he has issues (whether real or imagined) with the "higher arky" and the old farts on the STAR Committee (of which I am one) but I believe that his frustrations and plans for reform are based on his genuine concern to keep our cars running and roadworthy into the future. Whether his current plans for the "Spares Club" in the guise of the Sunbeam Talbot Owners Club risen like some Yorkshire Phoenix from the ashes will prove to be the way forward or misguided I cannot say. I have joined his Club but am keeping an open mind.

All of us on this list who are now over seventy ( or are nearly there) will admit that that if we were 40 years younger we would also be kicking against the "establishment" because that is how in some cases progress is achieved.

The views expressed here are personal and nothing to do with the views of Star or other committee members.

Cheers

Bill

-- 
William D Hall
Glossop
Derbyshire 

creeler at googlemail.com

2010/5/17 james gardner <jimmy.gardner at ntlworld.com>

Hi Bob

Quite amazing how much abuse the Bamforth family get. I am surprised they even bother anymore. Why complain, I just don't get it. In the case of the "couple of chrome screws" for £30.00. No one is forcing anyone to purchase anything - if you don't like the price don't buy it. Having had many custom parts made over the years for various cars I find it unbelievable that these prices are being complained about. Remanufactured parts for such a small market are hugely expensive and I see the Bamforth spares as amazing value for money. This bickering is simply pathetic.

I have never met David, but I have met Simon a couple of times who incidentally drove to my house some 80 miles to look at my car and give restoration advice and did not want to charge me a penny. When I start work on my Alpine I am sure I will be relying heavily on the Bamforth family for parts and also advice (something they do not charge for).

The answer for anyone unhappy with any aspect of their business is to go elsewhere and source your parts. Luckily for me they continue to supply spares, and lets face it they are running a business. Just like the rest of us they too need to make a living.

J Gardner

----- Original Message ----- 
From: RA Hamilton 
To: STAOwners at sunbeamtalbot.info 
Sent: Friday, May 14, 2010 10:31 PM
Subject: [Sunbeam Talbot Email List] STOC Re-incarnation as commercialfund-raiser.

FYI, there appears to be more to the message I sent out this afternoon.

Bob Hamilton
Waverley, Nova Scotia

-------- Original Message --------
From: "RA Hamilton" <hamilton at accesscable.net>
Date: May 14, 2010 6:21:39 PM
Subject: Re: Fwd: STOC Re-incarnation as commercial fund-raiser.
To: terry poole <terrypoole at blueyonder.co.uk>, Bob Hamilton <hamilton at accesswave.ca>
Cc: info at sunbeamtalbotspares.co.uk>, Paul Walby <stardusteditor at aol.com>, John Badger <john_badger at btinternet.com>

Hi Terry,

I guess there is more to this story than what is on the surface and there appears to be some infighting from different camps that we across the water are isolated from.

Are there any others out there who would like to add to this discussion?

Regards,
Bob

On 05/14/10, terry poole <terrypoole at blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:

Hi Bob, 

Hope all is well with you.
You may well not agree with this but I've sent it anyway.

Regards,

Terry.

Begin forwarded message:

From: terry poole <terrypoole at blueyonder.co.uk <terrypoole at blueyonder.co.uk>>
Date: 14 May 2010 19:51:06 BST
To: info at sunbeamtalbotspares.co.uk <info at sunbeamtalbotspares.co.uk>
Cc: Paul Walby <stardusteditor at aol.com <stardusteditor at aol.com>>, John Badger <john_badger at btinternet.com <john_badger at btinternet.com>>
Subject: STOC  Re-incarnation as commercial fund-raiser.

Hi,

I've just read about the "new" Sunbeam Talbot Owner's Club re-formed apparently for "our" benefit - lovely. But!! Never believe anything you hear and only half of what you see!

All sounds very laudable, but would I be correct in anticipating that the main beneficiary will be STS, who will have the benefit of "free" tooling, paid for by STAR members, plus the profits on the parts to be sold at their valuations to the people who paid for the tooling? Nice work if you can get it - as they say.

The figures relating to fees and tool hire are undisclosed, so could be minimal in real terms.

Will the eBay STS seller be part of the deal? If their prices are a guide then there won't be many bargains for contributing members, or will there really be 2 price lists?

I recall years ago that keen members of STAR made voluntary contributions towards the "spares fund" but I don't recall them receiving any benefit over people who hadn't contributed (Correct me if I am wrong).  Not that I am complaining about that - it all appeared to be in a good cause at the time.

I know I am being skeptical, but I put that down to the times we live in, where the £ is king.

I would be very pleased to learn that my skepticism is unfounded.

Further, on a different note, I fully approve of meetings which don't involve sitting in an expensive field all day, looking at stationary cars that we mostly know from back to front trying to look as though it's fun, while yet again we fill our voting forms in, and well worth the expensive drive there and back!?

Interestingly, already we see STOC (aka STS) giving STAR a (deserved?) kick up the rear end on that subject!  What hope for future "cooperation"?

I can foresee that as the existing 50yr. old++ STAR membership falls off the branch, all relevant  Sunbeam Talbot interest will be with STOC, which, as an Oldie I can say, is where we came in!

Maybe call it "progress" - maybe not?

Just a thought - we must have survived at least 4 decades of doom and gloom regarding the warnings of "no more of our cars on the road in 10 yrs. time unless etc. etc. re: spares".  Compared to rust - minimal. The efforts of various suppliers over the years to produce replacement body repair panels which fit has been abysmal. Mainly because "we" expect to get things for nothing - see how many tips there have been on how to save 10p using a paper clip doing a £100 job!
Now have a look on eBay at the "couple of chrome screws" you can buy for £30.00.

I bet STOC won't be tooling up for much bodywork, chrome screws are much more fun.

Hey-ho, hope I'm wrong.

Enjoy the field.

Regards,

Terry Poole.
Region 8

-- 

Robert (Bob) A.C. Hamilton
Waverley, NS

-- 

Robert (Bob) A.C. Hamilton
Waverley, NS

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_______________________________________________
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-- 
William D Hall
Glossop
Derbyshire 

creeler at googlemail.com

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