Classic Torque - Readers Letters
[ CMM Homepage | CMM Clubs Listing | CMM Motor Museums Listing | Classic-fied Ads On-Line | On-line Events Diary | CMM Links Page | CMM Subscriptions | CMM News Items | From the CMM Archives | Off-line in CMM | Special Offers in CMM | Search this Site ]
JAVELINS FOUND
Dear CMMI am writing in hope of contacting any of your interested readers about an assortment of Javelin cars I have recently come across. Located in a yard just off the main A56, on the way into the east side of central Manchester, squeezed in between piles of worn tyres and old window frames. These Jowett Javelins, in various states of decay and past salvage, are less than 40 miles from their original place of manufacture - Jowett Cars Ltd of Idle, near Bradford. Produced the Javelin from 1947 to 1953, in five variants, but all with the flat four overhead valve engine of 1486 cc. LOCK MAN... Dear CMMRegarding the Lock Man's column last time (May 2013, Issue 290) about an Armstrong Siddeley, I too have one of these cars (and live only 20 miles from James Brewster). The door handles on my car are the same as the one illustrated, but they definitely have an 'Elmo' key rather than Wilmot Breeden. So it looks as if the handles weren't made by WB after all! |
I have just received two replies from my ad on your online service, both claim to be agents who will pay by "cashiers check" and arrange shipping, one reply is non specific and the other from west Africa! Do any readers have any experience of this type of reply, I am very wary as I am constantly receiving e-mail and letter scams from Nigeria and Eastern European countries making all sorts of ridiculous offers in an attempt to get your bank details, presumably with a view to emptying my bank account.
Yours
D. Cowell
*That's exactly what they intend to do; this is another email scam going the rounds of many sites on the web; they pick-up various email addresses, and intend to send you a fake cheque (as if you would let any goods go without seeing some hard cash). We seen several examples of the emails they send out. Pathetically, one started "Dear sir/madam - We are willing to buy the item(s) you are selling at full price..." Another seemed to offer a money laundering service offering $10,000 above the asking price (this email was sent to Helen in our admin dept!) 'to cover incidental costs etc.'
This is, verbatim, another email sent to CMM: "i'm very much interested in purchasing your advertised product tagged at[price].i'm an international dealer importer and exporter in varieties of goods,the payment is by certified america cashier check.if the payment term is pkay by you,kindly email me your full name,address and phone number to proceed with payment right away.as regard the shipping,i have a reputables international shipping companies that ship my consignments.he will be coming for the pick up as soon as the payment is concluded.i will like to know the present condition of the product in order to speed things up as soon as the payment is made.so if you're okay by this,kindly get back to me in time." In this case, the software this snake was using failed to spot a price (We didn't advertise anything) and so didn't slot it in his letter.
You can spot these fakers a mile away - just use your common sense!
We also counsel against paying by bank transfers to strangers; like many publications, thieves are trawling the CMM wanted ads claiming to have parts that enthusiasts want - though plausible, a number have been caught out by scammers wanting payment by bank transfer, and in some cases that have been reported to us, giving fake names and addresses. Of course, the goods they promise don't turn up. Our advice is, that unless you are 100% certain, do NOT pay by bank transfer for goods someone claims they have.
We'll leave this letter on our on-line site as a word of warning to others!
MORE LOCK MAN....
Dear CMM
After seeing The Lock Man's article about `barn door` keys, I remembered I had a few old keys deep in the garage from my days working in a general motor repair garage in the '50s.
I was only a teenager, but we did everything from bodywork accident repairs, fabrication, lead loading, engine overhauls, regrinds, white metalling, chassis welding, you name it.
I started collecting car keys, and have about 100. There are a selection of FS series from 891 to 950 (not complete) FP series from 626 to 750 (also not complete) and a few MRN FT and RM.
Are they worth anything? There are about 10 barn door styles. I can supply all the numbers if required.
Also, re recent `Spannerman` correspondence regarding `handbrake clicking`. On the police driving courses I attended, It was seen a a cardinal sin to apply the handbrake without holding down the ratchet button. It was always regarded as poor car consideration, causing unnecessary wear. Clicking handbrake got you back walking. That was in the 1960s; maybe they don`t care now?
Regards
Alan Jones, via email: [email protected]
*The Lock Man replies: "Alan, it all depends on condition. If you're talking about 'used' keys then they're worth very little - they lose their plating and the 'cut' gets worn. New keys are more desirable, though 'FS', 'FP' & 'FT' are relatively commonplace.
"There'll be more interest in 'MRN' & 'RM', though neither will exactly fly off the boards - I've found that whatever numbers I take to a show, I'm always asked for something different!"
A LOOK AT LUBRICATIONDear CMM I see from Spannerman's last article (May 2013, Issue 290) that he is planning to look at lubrication issues for ‘our’ cars. I have been down this road myself and would suggest you have a look at an excellent publication called “Which Oil?” by Richard Michell (Veloce Publishing 2011. ISBN 978-1-845843-65-6). |
Comments, letters, suggestions; post your E-mail to; The Editor, Classic Motor Monthly,
Snail-mail; Classic Motor Monthly, PO Box 129, Bolton, BL3 4YQ, Lancashire, United Kingdom.
Tel (01204) 657212; International +44 1204 657212 
Fax (01204) 652764; International +44 1204 652764