On Thu, 20 Mar 1997, dave eaton wrote:
> The numbers are relatively small compared the the Triumph Herald. 8~)
Right, Dave! 201,142 examples JUST of the Herald 1200 saloon, and
something closer to .5 million of all types of Heralds and Vitesses!
Not otherwise desiringng to "jump into the fray," I would note that
production of any sort of Spare Parts Catalogue must surely be very, very
expensive. That might help explain why Standard-Triumph themselves, even
in their use of a loose-leaf format, did not totally revise their own
catalogues, such as that for the TR2-3A (and beyond).
A late edition (perhaps the reprint is the same?) of said TR2-3A factory
spare parts catalogue did/does a pretty decent job in the "text" of
documenting part number changes by commission, engine or maybe even body
number in some cases. So they didn't redraw all the illustrations or add a
bunch of new ones. It might be helpful to see a drawing of the wide-mouth
apron alongside a drawing of the original TR2 apron, or a drawing of the
more familiar thermostat housing next to that of the original, but is it
absolutely necessary? I don't know.
Printing and publishing technology has come a long way since S-T's own
Spare Parts Catalogue for the early TRs was first designed and printed.
Many of us right now are using desktop computers that could easily hold
and access the entire original catalogue -- and still have hard disk space
for a few months' worth of Triumphs digests. ;-) TRF, or anyone else
desiring to "reinvent the wheel" (catalogue) will have a much easier
time doing so with 1990s technology at hand. But the design will still
take much time and money.
Unfortunately, for many customers of parts vendors, access via computer
(Web or disk-resident) still is not a valid option. Therefore, many trees
and soy beans will give their lives so that paper copies can be mailed to
them. And let's be honest: how many of us are really willing to keep our
PowerBooks or other computers in the garage, next to the parts washer and
the grinder- buffer wheel? Not that many, which means we'll all want paper
copies as well.
I wish TRF luck in producing a comprehensive catalogue for the TR2-3B
range, and I have already suggested to them that a loose-leaf format might
be ideal. It's easier to handle, and it's easier to update in segments as
needed. Heck, I might even be willing to pay something for such a
catalogue; seems only fair!
--Andy
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* Andrew Mace e-mail: amace@unix2.nysed.gov *
* *
* Mrs Irrelevant: Oh, is it a jet? *
* Man: Well, no... It's not so much of a jet, it's more your, er, *
* Triumph Herald engine with wings. *
* -- The Cut-price Airline Sketch, Monty Python's Flying Circus *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
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