Andy,
Because what I asked for seems to be the question everybody is asking, I
will address my reply to the list.
I asked forpretty "general" production information about the Spitfire
models. Things like cutoff numbers for the particular years, etc. In
particulat, I want to find out what the deal is with the FH, FK, Fl and
FM production series. Somebody suggested that there was a single series
of numbers used throughout the 1500 production (regardless of whether it
had an FH or FM prefix. I doubt that because the FH series was carried
through from the MkIV series and in the US the MkIV carried a FK prefix,
while the 1500 carried a FM series.
Additionally, I seek documentation on where certain cars were actually
assembled, specifically how to tell by the Commission prefix. This is
to document the information that I have received indicating that a
number of cars were assembled in Belgium.
In short, I need pretty general information akin to what one might find
in parts catalogs to ensure the correct part is ordered. I have no
interest in posting information that would cripple the BMIHT's strangle
hold on $40.00 certificates (suitable for framing).
Also, I wish they would get in to the twentieth century and start using
EMAIL. The postal services are slow and very expensive when you are
trying to answer question of this nature.
Regards,
Joe Curry
Andrew Mace wrote:
>
> On Tue, 10 Feb 1998, Joe Curry wrote:
>
> > To all of those who think highly of the BMIHT
> >
> > I have written to the above organization in an effort to clear up some
> > conflicts that I have encountered in data that has been provided to the
> > Spitfire database. Below is a reply that I received. I interpret it as
> > saying in no uncertain terms, "We have the information and we use it to
> > raise money, therefore we would be crazy to give it to you so you could
> > post it on the internet for the benefit of all those who care." In
> > short, the BMIHT seems to exist for the purpose of raising money not for
> > the promotion of historic cars as claimed.
>
> Joe, I see your point. And I know that BMIHT is really the only game in
> town for this information. But I'm not sure they are being that
> unreasonable. I doubt that they get an excess of support from BMW/Rover,
> but even if they do, both BMIHT and BMW/Rover would first have to survive
> as a income-generating entity (be it charitable trust for the former or
> corporate, profit-making business for the latter). So it doesn't seem all
> that absurd that they require some sort of funding in order to continue
> their efforts.
>
> In their response, it sounds to me as if they are being reasonably
> accommodating (I'm not sure what it was you asked them in the way of
> information). At the same time, I do wonder if $40 US isn't a lot to pay
> for a somewhat chintzy-looking "frameable" certificate for a given car.
> And [CONFIDENTIALLY], I've heard that Klaus whatzhisname can be a pain in
> the b***!]
>
> Ideally, it would be wonderful to see BMW/Rover fund a complete
> computerization of all the Heritage records and archives, but I don't
> know when/if this will ever happen. Maybe someday the various clubs can
> lobby for this and/or even contribute to some degree.
>
> I wonder what some of the American companies charge for such information?
> I know some of them can provide information on build specifications, but
> I don't know to what extent or at what cost.
>
> So, what WAS it you wanted them to tell you? Maybe I should know that
> before I wax any more eloquently! :-)
>
> --Andy
--
"Thanks to the Interstate Highway System, it is now possible
to travel across the country coast to coast without seeing
anything." -- Charles Kuralt
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