Oral History Project

Whilst this blog has given you plenty of information regarding vehicle surveys, restoration work and data collection undertaken by the volunteers - there is more, and that's the work of the oral history team.

The team consists of ten volunteers, many of whom are also involved in either the restoration or data projects. Team leaders Vince Hall and Alastair Wilson head up and coordinate the team, whose task is to source and record an oral history of the British motor industry. This is all part of the opening programme for when the new Museum Collections Centre opens in 2015.

However, before they were let loose with microphone and voice recorder, they all received a full briefing from the curator on the main objectives of the project. This was then followed by training from Julia Letts of Letts Talk, whose company specializes in the art of interview planning and techniques.

  

Operating the Zoom audio equipment was also part of the training programme

What got this project off to such a good start was the fact that a large number of the volunteers, now mostly retired, had worked in the British motor industry. This was either on the factory floor, or for suppliers and includes managers, designers, engineers, paint specialists, IT people and SMMT management. All had a story to tell, with memories, experiences and opinions.

When the first interview took place and the equipment tested, one of the first things that became apparent was the background noise the microphone picked up. What we really wanted of course was a sound proof studio/room. Then someone realised we had the very thing parked on the museum floor - the 1968 Vanden Plas 4 litre Princess. This was ideal, comfy seats and excellent soundproofing, helped by the glass screen separating the drivers area. The slight downside was that after about 30 minutes with the doors shut and two people talking, you needed to come out for a bit of fresh air.

Just to give you a brief flavour of what one of the first interviews revealed - this is what we found out about volunteer Chris Bramley's early career. Chris joined Rover in the early '60's, following civil and mechanical engineering training. He was assigned to gas turbine development and worked on Rover T3 and T4 development. He was also part of the Rover team that went to the 1965 Le Mans 24 hour race with the legendry Rover BRM. During his time with these projects he worked with the likes of Spen King, Graham Hill and Jackie Stewart.

  

Leslie Gunde interviews Chris in the back of the Vanden Plas Princess

Future blogs will give updates  as the project expands to include more interviews with the general public. However in the meantime,  if you've worked in the British car industry, or have an interesting car related historical story to tell then we'd love to hear from you. Please contact Volunteer Coordinator Sonja Dosanjh on 01926 645027and you could be sitting in the back of a luxurious old limo.

Volunteers Data Team - Part 2

As was explained in our last blog, the Data Team has been collating and entering all the information relating to every vehicle's condition into an Excel database. This, including the sorting and labelling of thousands of photos, has taken many months to complete.

On completion, an even more daunting task awaited us, as the curator then wanted a full technical report - cum dossier - on every vehicle in the museum's collection - which is around 300 vehicles.

With the museum's excellent reading library (open to the public) and vast archive section (not open to the public - see below) all the information we required on the vehicles was there. Somewhere! What quickly became apparent was that information on any standard, non prototype, vehicle from around 1948 to the present was not too hard to come by. Most of the information was obtainable from vehicle and road tests in past editions of Motor or Autocar magazine, plus a bit of research from the library or the internet.

      

 

Sometimes our task was made very easy, as with the 1948 Morris Minor. The full road test and vehicle specification was found in Autocar dated 26th November 1948 and the actual car was the one in the museum (see photos above).

However, this was very much the exception, rather than the rule. With any vehicle built prior to WW11, or a prototype,  racing car, record breaking special and in particular the many derivatives of Land Rover the museum has, the task has required a lot of patience and research.

           

 

This is one page of the detailed technical report form and a happy volunteer doing his research.

The information required is very detailed and covers all specifications relating to the engine, transmission (including gear ratios), steering, suspension, brakes, body/chassis materials and construction. All dimensions relating to turning circle, track, width and length of the vehicle as well its kerbside weight are part of the report.

The main reason for generating all this detail is to enhance the viewing experience at the new Museum Collections Centre, due to open towards the end of 2015. One of the options being looked at is providing electronic information pods at strategic points throughout both the existing and new museums containing a full technical data report on every vehicle.

So, when you turn up at the new museum and want a lot more information on say, the 1951 Rover Marauder Tourer, you should be able at the nearest pod, to get all the answers you want, including its price when new.

That's the plan and hopefully we can complete it by Autumn 2015.

Whilst the large archive section is not open to the public, the material and  information contained therein can be viewed by appointment with the archive staff.

Welcome to the Volunteers Data Team

Whilst the restoration team has been busy, firstly renovating a 1958 MGA and currently restoring the 1960 Standard Ensign, the data team has been hard at work in front of computer screens or with noses buried deep in books and manuals.

As was explained in our very first blog, the Heritage Motor Centre has a total of around 300 vehicles in its collection (see About us).  The first task for all the volunteers was to inspect these vehicles and fill in a survey condition report accompanied by photos of all damage and defects.

  

 

     

A detailed survey, inside and out, was undertaken on every vehicle in the collection

When this survey was completed those who wanted to get their hands dirty and play with cars started the restoration work, whilst those of us who liked the warmth and comfort of an office, started to compile all the data. Thanks to the computer skills of team leader Doug Armer, an excellent and easy to use Excel spreadsheet was created for all this detailed information to be entered and then recorded on a central data base.

All smiles from the Data Team

Alongside this we also had something in the region of 7,000 photos to sort through. Each vehicle in the collection has its own identity number, so this had to be entered against every photo, plus a brief description of the photo content.  When complete, the photo data could then be married up with the survey reports.  This project initially looked somewhat daunting, but once we all became familiar with what was required, the end became a reality.

The Curator, however, had other plans for after we'd finished this project and that is proving to be daunting. 

More details in the next blog which, due to holidays, will not be until early October.

Part 9: 1960 STANDARD ENSIGN

The engine

After the main body shell/chassis the engine is probably the next most important element  in any major restoration project. Therefore, whilst work continues on the former, the engine has also been getting some much needed attention.

 

           

       The engine as we found it               The discovery of sticking valves

CLICK HERE TO READ THE STORY SO FAR...

Introducing the Resto Baker Boys

It has now become the norm for all volunteers to meet up in the morning at the Junction 12 Cafe for tea or coffee before duties commence. Whilst most will chat about cars, the weather, the current news, or trying to put the world to right, the group that comes in on Tuesday always talks about cakes. It doesn’t stop at talking, Roger, John and Mike bring in their own homemade varieties and then eat them.

What started out with one of the group partaking in a birthday treat has now progressed into a weekly demonstration of their cake making skills. A baking rota has been agreed, which now includes Sonja, our volunteer coordinator, who thought she ought to join as she’s always there for the eating bit.

 From left to right, Sonja, John, Roger and Mike sample Roger’s creation of strawberry muffins

So, now for something completely different as they say, the Resto Baker Boys as they’ve become known, have allowed us access to three of their recipes.

The recipe for Mike’s “OutbackDamper” was posted in a previous blog here and if you found the instructions a bit odd it should be explained that he spent far too long living in Australia. He does drive a nice restored 1971 MGB though!

John, who drives a lovely old 1955 Oldsmobile 88, gives us his “Ginger Biscuit” recipe.

400g Plain Flour   

100g Ground Ginger   

2oz Butter   

1tsp Baking Powder   

1tsp Bicarb of Soda

Mix all the ingredients to a dough and shape into biscuits

Bake at gas mark 4 for 10 – 15 minutes

You’ll need to decide how crispy round the edges you want them and adjust the baking time.

The Resto Baker Boys with cakes on the bonnet of Roger’s 1934 Morris 10/4

Roger’s contribution is a recipe for “Weetabix Cake”

2 Weetabix crushed     

6oz Raisins     

6oz Self-Raising Flour

4oz Brown Sugar    

½ Pint Semi-Skimmed Milk    

1 Egg

Mix the Weetabix, raisins & milk together and leave to stand for 2 hours

Mix in the flour, sugar and egg until dough is formed

Grease and line a loaf tin and bake at 160⁰C for 1 – 1 ½ hrs

Leave to cool – turn out – slice – butter – eat!

Why not give one of the recipes a go and tell us what you think. Remember, Mary Berry had to start somewhere!

Part 8: 1960 STANDARD ENSIGN

In at the deep end and learning new skills

If you’ve been following the blog on our Ensign project then you’ll know that the underside of the car’s bodyshell was found to be in a very poor state. Rust, corrosion and previous poor repair work was found everywhere, requiring large sections to be cut out before we could progress any further.

New fabrication skills were quickly learnt as these photos clearly illustrate, as many of the parts and sections required replacing.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE STORY SO FAR....

The Resto Baker Boys Tuesday Recipe no.1

Outback Damper

Baked by Volunteer Mike Gething

1lb flour

½ pint billabong water strained in an old sock to get the bugs out

Mix the flour and water to a dough and shape to a 2” high round

Scrape a hollow in the fires ashes and put the dough in and cover with ashes

Leave for 2 hours

Use a stick to check it’s cooked (stick comes out dry)

Scrape ash off (optional) eat & enjoy.