Hi Everyone,
I picked up a very interesting book yesterday which I thought you might
like me to share with you.
It is a confidential dealer 'man hour schedule' for working on Rootes
cars from 1963.
It is marked 'STRICTLY PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL' for the use for Rootes
main dealers and dealers only. So I have only shared it with 2 people,
one called tiger and one called Alpine, both work for a Rootes
dealership called autox.team.net so I guess the Rootes management team
may not come looking for me 8-)
The book covers Alpine, Gazelle, Rapier, Hawk, Husky and cob, Minx,
Rapier, Sceptre, Super Minx, Super Snipe and Vogue.
an extract...
'FOREWORD'
Quote - " This schedule is issued with the objective of standardising
service repair times throughout the Rootes service organisation. It
covers all the more common service operations on a vehicle which is
standard and has been maintained in accordance with our
recommendations."
It list the times allowed for the workshop technicians to complete
standard tasks on an Alpine for example :
times are hrs:mins
(all times are to Remove and refit)
complete engine 7:10
cylinder head 3:45
Clutch driven plate 4:45
over drive 7:45
instrument panel swap 2:45
One over rider (bumperette) 0:10
complete door 1:00
bonnet 0:30
soft top 5:00
there is a whole book of them, more than I can type!
Then some interesting ones under ROOTES SPECIAL ACCESSORIES which was
interesting (all times are to install):
Heater 4:30
heater fan kit 0:45
Radio - Radiomobile deluxe 3:00
radio - Pye 3:00
Radio Ekco 3:00
Ammeter 0:30
windscreen washer manual 2:15
windscreen washer electric 2:15
radiator blind 2:00
bonnet motif 0:30
luggage grid 0:10
reverse lights 1:30
gear lever lock 2:00
hard top install 2:30 !!!!!
Map pockets (+15 mins of radio fitted) 0:30
Headlamp flasher 1:00 (I assume for NA models)
It then list rate tables to make you cry which are listed in GB pounds
and US Dollars
Rates run from 5 shillings per hour to 25 shillings per hour ( 0,25 GB
pounds to 1.25 GB pounds), and also $1 per hour to $10 per hour
It is interesting also that the rates run to $10 dollars and 1.25 pounds
which is now around $2 ! Shows how the interest rate have changes.
Now I don't expect you to run to your local Sunbeam maintainer and say
but this job only takes 10 mins as I assume these rates are based on
cars that are fairly new and all bolts come out and the parts are in the
store next to the workshop !!
One entry hit home to me, supply and fit Over drive switch - 30 mins -
sorry Bob !! 8-)
Also no listings for Harringtons, but the time taken to 'install' a hard
top makes us all realise the time and care we need to take in order top
fit the HT, normally around 3 mins. - I guess it must include time to
remove it from a shipping crate.
It's a shame the book is a little too early to cover a Tiger because I
would love to see the time listed to change some things.
I know this is very rare, but has anyone else got one or ever seen one?
It provides a great insight into how Rootes worked on the service side,
I know how it works in main dealers but have not seen it documented for
Rootes before.
regards
Jeff
--
Jeff Howarth
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