30-09-2017, 10:42 PM
(This post was last modified: 30-09-2017, 10:44 PM by Bob Culver.)
Hi Dennis
Your observations about information are similar comments I made recently on old Forum but cannot now find. However for decades enthusiasts had to make do with the likes of Pitman or Nicholson. Many would never have seen or heard of an owners handbook or parts book, and then only for their model.
A problem now is the volume of material, much of it obsolete, poor advice, or with errors. The knowledge required to sift the wheat from the chaff is such that those with knowledge have little cause to read anyway, and newcomers, even if they manage to find all and make the huge effort to read, are largely bamboozled. Ideally old articles need to be pruned, corrected, categorised, assembled or indexed together, and rated with emphasis given the more succinct and useful, and with a summary of errors if these cannot be fixed. Including those in the books. Many old Forum responses gave succinct summaries on topics but were, like this, under unrelated headings and were unfortunately hard to find, and now increased so.
But it would be a huge job and those able are not numerous and have other things to do. Passing on what to them is basic stuff to what in many cases seems to them to be bumbling amateurs does not appeal to all of the experts. And some regard as intellectual knowledge to be dispensed sparingly.
The gap between basic skills and application is difficult to cover without related experience. It is what apprenticeships were largely for. It has always been difficult to find books which cover the transfer of basic workshop skills to real machinery. Even many “mechanics”, and esp modern ones, lack ability other than with their standard routine work. In another Club over the decades I have observed skilled fitters, technicians and the like do well, and a surprising number of able woodworkers. Observant attention to detail and fits seems to be important.
Your observations about information are similar comments I made recently on old Forum but cannot now find. However for decades enthusiasts had to make do with the likes of Pitman or Nicholson. Many would never have seen or heard of an owners handbook or parts book, and then only for their model.
A problem now is the volume of material, much of it obsolete, poor advice, or with errors. The knowledge required to sift the wheat from the chaff is such that those with knowledge have little cause to read anyway, and newcomers, even if they manage to find all and make the huge effort to read, are largely bamboozled. Ideally old articles need to be pruned, corrected, categorised, assembled or indexed together, and rated with emphasis given the more succinct and useful, and with a summary of errors if these cannot be fixed. Including those in the books. Many old Forum responses gave succinct summaries on topics but were, like this, under unrelated headings and were unfortunately hard to find, and now increased so.
But it would be a huge job and those able are not numerous and have other things to do. Passing on what to them is basic stuff to what in many cases seems to them to be bumbling amateurs does not appeal to all of the experts. And some regard as intellectual knowledge to be dispensed sparingly.
The gap between basic skills and application is difficult to cover without related experience. It is what apprenticeships were largely for. It has always been difficult to find books which cover the transfer of basic workshop skills to real machinery. Even many “mechanics”, and esp modern ones, lack ability other than with their standard routine work. In another Club over the decades I have observed skilled fitters, technicians and the like do well, and a surprising number of able woodworkers. Observant attention to detail and fits seems to be important.