The parts places prefer to sell entire new Chinese units. I had to repair a distributor in the family fleet, one part in it costs $260 locally, the entire new unit with cap was $270. I scrounged up a good used internal part, rather than replace a quality OEM distributor with the new off shore copy. I had a starter drive fail in another "modern" (20 years old) car, the only source for a drive was the dealer, at over $300 online... more than the dealer price for a whole starter. No wonder rebuilding is going away.
Sure appreciate your decades of service, Rusty. Lump in my throat seeing the era I've always known - sort of ending around me, rubbing it in as it goes. Kids are saying there's a reason dinosaurs went extinct, looking at me. I'm gonna look at my junk, and see what I need that you still may have laying around. Take care, good luck!
too bad your dad did not do all this in California near where I live. you would be a millionaire and there would be homes stacked up like cordwood on the property 3 months after the sale. there are many many homes being built here, not a single on it's own lot with a yard.
@e1956v Hope everything works out great for you. Those cores you had hauled away may not be gone. I work at a scrapyard and we get old stuff in from time to time. An old starter/generator shop must have closed because we got in lots of old generators and starters. Flathead Ford ones, Model A, Model T and others. I kept those. We don't scrap everything that comes in. We have some customers that come in and buy things. Your cores may just end up starting up someone elses business or hobby.
I was hoping that was the case with some of the cores I let go, hopefully some will get pulled out and saved. Thanks for passing that info on.
Thanks to all of you guys for the kind words and comments. This has turned out to be a more daunting task than I imagined, so much to do and get checked off what seems like an endless list. New workspace is getting closer, I had electrical updated and a Mini split heating and air system installed and decided to get the floors professionally coated. Now the cold Colorado winters and hot summers with a west facing garage door will be more bearable to work in. Going to finish baseboard trim this weekend. Thanks again guys
I don’t want to get sideways with the moderators because I know this isn’t the Garage Journal but this is a before pic of the wall where the new outside door is now.
Gee, I already got the part Rusty, fits perfect, just ordered yesterday. Thanks and good lookin new shop!
Glad it fit and length was good, get back to me after you run it, give me a measured mile reading backed by gps if you want and we’ll get the calibration dialed in.
I know it should be a bias ply tire instead of a radial for the stoop but I was in a pinch. Haven’t had time to build forms and pour the steps yet, it’s on the todo list on its way to the tadone list.
Well the scrapper came again today to haul off our old speedometer dynamometer. We did accuracy checks for the city police cars and county sheriffs as well as checking cars out for people getting speeding tickets. The roller’s were shot where the bearings pressed on and the neoprene bearing cushions are no longer available. We used this freestanding speedometer that came with the dyno for years, I later switched to a hand held computer with a pulse generator and digital readout. One more thing off the list. Sad to see it go, it was fun doing 100 mph standing still.
I wish you all the best, Rusty!!! Your garage is coming along nicely and should make a great work space. I have such mixed feelings. On one hand I'm so sad to see you leave your beloved shop. When I watched your video I could see and feel your sadness, I can't help but feel those emotions as well. I am also happy for you. You have worked so hard throughout the years and continue to keep the business going. Hopefully you get to enjoy some more free time while you continue to service speedometers. Building a hot rod is funny you know....we set out to build the car we've imagined, we long for the day when we fire the engine the first time. Sometimes we swear at em' and some days we can't wipe the smile off our face. When we finish the car we can look at every part and recall what it took to get it 'just right'. Every time I look at my gigantic 1935 Floating Power speedometer I think of Rusty. You realize in that moment you've built more than just a car. You've built friendships, you've made memories, and everyone that had a part in your build is riding in your hot rod with you. I sent my speedo to Rusty as it needed a rebuild. When Rusty finished the rebuild I asked him for my bill so I could get him paid. He said, "I will send you your speedometer, hook it up and make sure you like it, then you can pay me". I remember thinking....What?????, you don't find businesses like this anymore. Rusty's good word and his nod is good enough until payment is sent at a later date. Your customer service is unmatched. Gone are the days where we can find true gems such as Speedometer Services. Rusty, your business is an American treasure. Some day America will look back with sadness that businesses like these are no longer around. Thank you for all your contributions to the hot rod community!
Thanks TJ. I’ve enjoyed making your acquaintance even if just by phone and here on the HAMB. You and Greg ( @fleetside66) are a wealth of knowledge on Stewart Warner gauges and history and I really appreciate what I’ve learned from you both. One of my dad’s sayings that stuck with me was “we sell Service here the parts just happen to come along with that” it has served me and the shop well over the years.
Well guys it’s getting down to the wire December 31st is my deadline for getting out of the building. Today James picked up the original generator/alternator test that my dad made, we called her “old faithful “. We move the speedometer repair bench this weekend along with around 30 tote’s of NOS Speedo parts and complete clusters from the 1930’s to the late 1980’s. The new garage shop is coming along, got the speedometer cable making bench and supplies moved last weekend and also the lathe.
One of the new(old) test bench’s I acquired last year along with the Stewart Warner 890’s. I also found a cool Carter Carburetor cabinet my dad used for speedometer parts and my setup for measuring speedo cables.
Those old tools are really cool, and look to have held up well, considering how much use they must have had over the years.
Well guy’s today’s December 23rd went down to the old shop to pick up one of the last loads of stuff. Just waiting for a customer to pick up some shelves he wanted, that’s tomorrow Christmas Eve. It hit me hard today as I took a look around. The basement is emptied before and after pictures follow. I found a sign for the original Liberty Grocery that was face to the wall and had so much crap piled up against it I never realized what it was. It’s 18 feet long! I’ve got no place to put it, I’m going to try to find a home for it next week, I don’t have much time as I have to be out by the 31st. It’s gonna be hard walking out the door for the last time.
Got the speedometer repair bench moved in and set up. First job for the new shop came in, speedo and tach for a 65 Corvette. Hey @Jigger my neon clock that you did the dial for hangs prominently.
There was a shop, "Willie Auto Electric" in town when I was younger, I used to go buy brushes and bushings for Chevy starters from him. To his credit he never asked when I was going to buy a complete unit from him, I guess he was glad to see someone repairing their own parts.
The Liberty grocery thing is super awesome, if I was within a couple hundred miles of you I'd be trying to snag that. Looks like you've got a handle on things and will be all finished up on time, which is good.
That's the sad part, the general public is cheap and lame and don't realize what quality means or is. In the future when online is all we have people will be sad about things not lasting or working and return shipping fees, not to mention the dark days for the rest of us. I will continue to seek out local companies to do the work I don't do and to tell anyone who wants the same about them. Thank you for keeping open for as long as you did and continuing the service that you're doing. Hope 2022 will find you well and prosperous.
It's a great story, thanks for sharing. Sad to see the old things go but that's how it has been forever and ever. I'm glad you own the land and are able to cash out, I don't blame you, you earned it.
I couldn't agree more! In most cases I'd rather have rebuilt vs. new. The mere fact that a component CAN be rebuilt speaks to its quality, and hopefully, its longevity. I gotta wonder how much throwaway 'new' crap is sitting off shore waiting to be unloaded when a lot of it could easily been rebuilt/refurbished and save jobs, resources, time and money. Our "need new technology" and throwaway society has painted us into an uncomfortable corner. Unfortunately, we (and corporate America) never learn!
Well it's sad that things changed and you have to move on. But one good thing comes out of the move ..... it will be real easy to go home for lunch
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