Doug Woodrow Austin Seven Manual..

[Albert S]

Just spent a delightful part of the morning chatting with Susan Woodrow,wife of the late Doug Woodrow author of The Austin Seven Manual, for anyone considering any mechanical involvement with their Austin an essential addition to the bookshelf.
Followed several copies that have been listed on internet auction sites.. good condition,few oily smudges squire.. that usually end up at the thick end of £60-70. Online bookstores vary,some at ridiculous asking prices... so what a pleasure to find Susan Woodrow,still driving her 28 Chummy,sells new volumes for £47.99 plus £6.50 p&p.
She can be reached on: 01945 430058..what a cracker of a gift for Christmas morning.

[Nick Salmon]

I sometimes wish that every new A7 owner who goes searching for stuff could be made aware of the traps it is so easy to fall into. The Woodrow book is a classic in point and the chancers who put them on ebay at silly money make me really angry. Yes, I know a fool and his money are easily parted but the innocents know no better.  The Source Book pricing almost always raises my blood pressure and likewise the ludicrous prices asked for allegedly rare parts that are nothing of the sort and can often easily be purchased for a fraction of the price from cherished suppliers etc.

£35 for a 'vintage' rubber sucker valve grinding stick anyone? 

£255 for three box spanners?

£28 for some feeler gauges?

All available on ebay right now. Roll up.

[Erich]

Ah, yes. But Nick the valve grinding tool has a rubber sucker that has a nice patina and well worn shaft. And the provenance!

[Nick Salmon]

Ah, yes. But Nick the valve grinding tool has a rubber sucker that has a nice patina and well worn shaft. And the provenance!

Tempting as it is Erich, I shall not rise to the potential smut that is lurking in a nice patina and a well worn shaft. Cue Sid James' cackle.

[Tony Betts]

If anyone is interested I had a near new condition woodrow come in the other day.

£40 if anyone wants it.

Or I'll have to take advantage of someone on eBay.

The ebay thing always amazes me. Put 3 spanners on with a buy in now for £255 and nobody wants them. Put the same item at 4.99 start and people go made and end up buying them for £900

Put it down to what you want, stoopidity, foolishness, newbies. It's been going on for decades.

All I know is as a supplier, I would have given up years ago if I had to rely on what comes through the phone. Many people haven't even realised we've gone decimal yet !!

Tony.

[bystander]

A few more examples from ebay of mundane A7 stuff from a prolific seller, at 'lunar'tic prices (clue here to the name!):

Set of valve springs £79.99 (cherished supplier £7.20)
Set of cylinder head flat washers £5.99 (cs £1.50)
Drain tap £51.99 (£29.40)
Centre main lockwasher £4.99 (72p)
Spade key £4.99 (£1.08)
Set of clutch toggle pins £5.99 (£1.68)
Set of brass manifold nuts £15.00 (£6.30)
Kingpin thrust washer £2.99 (48p)
Flywheel lockwasher £3.99 (66p)

etc. etc. etc. Mind you, some of them do include postage!

[Mike Costigan]

... Many people haven't even realised we've gone decimal yet !!

Tony.

You're not specialising in Austin Tens now, are you?

[Tony Betts]

... Many people haven't even realised we've gone decimal yet !!

Tony.

You're not specialising in Austin Tens now, are you?

Sorry mike, you'll have to explain that one for me, I don't get it.

Tony.

[Mike Costigan]

Sorry Tony, my feeble attempt at a joke! The decimal system is based on the unit of ten, so ...

[Tony Betts]

Hi mike,

I love a joke, but they have to be like ME.

A bit simpler. 

Tony