Post by atefooterz on Mar 20, 2015 15:31:10 GMT 10
While fixing up my van to go to the South Australian Caravan and Camping show, streetside i met a few locals who were interested in the old beast ( Franklin Arrow) One bloke in particular had some fond memories and luckily he agreed to put finger to type and share this one with us!
Author Mr G Symes March 2015.
RE Viscount Sydney Caravans...
Our family company was established before the second world war by my grandfather, it was named Auto Products back then.
It was principally involved in automotive engine spares and other accessories.
My father took control of the business when he returned from service and change the name to the Syco Brass Fitting company.
This in turn lead to the manufacture of fuel line and oil line fittings.
In the sixties John Darlington requested we produce LPG taps for the propane powered refrigerators he was installing in his caravans.
This was a great earner for the company as we were producing good volumes of these taps which had to be of a high standard due to the risk of leakage and potential fire or even worse explosion!
I remember my father asking me to drive over the plant and deliver a large quantity of these taps and other fittings to Mr. Darlington personally.
When I arrived at the factory I went directly to the receptionist and asked to see Mr. Darlington.
She was hesitant at first, however I insisted as “Dad” had told me rather sternly that this needed to be done and Mr. Darlington was waiting personally on this urgent delivery.
Understanding that I was only 17 years old and on school holidays I took my father’s request seriously and I was so disappointed when I handed these items to Mr. Darlington he said: “You could have taken them to “Goods Inwards”.
Once I explained my instructions he then laughed and said :”That’s your Father playing a trick on you”!
We both laughed about it and it was a great learning experience for me.
Then some months later our sales to Viscount dropped alarmingly, my Father said: “Hell Jack must be buying from the opposition and I’m not happy about this, particularly seeing I’ve looked after him so well”!
So some days later my Father had a meeting with Jack.
Jack said: “ Russell have a look out the window and you’ll understand why your sales have dropped”.
There at the employee’s entrance there were new gates and people inspecting staff bags for valuable items when work finished for the day.
The upshot of the story was that a vast majority of the taps we had been selling were being pilfered and sold at scrap yards for cash!
This story is purely for historical reasons and bears no malice to anyone past or present.
RE Viscount Sydney Caravans...
Our family company was established before the second world war by my grandfather, it was named Auto Products back then.
It was principally involved in automotive engine spares and other accessories.
My father took control of the business when he returned from service and change the name to the Syco Brass Fitting company.
This in turn lead to the manufacture of fuel line and oil line fittings.
In the sixties John Darlington requested we produce LPG taps for the propane powered refrigerators he was installing in his caravans.
This was a great earner for the company as we were producing good volumes of these taps which had to be of a high standard due to the risk of leakage and potential fire or even worse explosion!
I remember my father asking me to drive over the plant and deliver a large quantity of these taps and other fittings to Mr. Darlington personally.
When I arrived at the factory I went directly to the receptionist and asked to see Mr. Darlington.
She was hesitant at first, however I insisted as “Dad” had told me rather sternly that this needed to be done and Mr. Darlington was waiting personally on this urgent delivery.
Understanding that I was only 17 years old and on school holidays I took my father’s request seriously and I was so disappointed when I handed these items to Mr. Darlington he said: “You could have taken them to “Goods Inwards”.
Once I explained my instructions he then laughed and said :”That’s your Father playing a trick on you”!
We both laughed about it and it was a great learning experience for me.
Then some months later our sales to Viscount dropped alarmingly, my Father said: “Hell Jack must be buying from the opposition and I’m not happy about this, particularly seeing I’ve looked after him so well”!
So some days later my Father had a meeting with Jack.
Jack said: “ Russell have a look out the window and you’ll understand why your sales have dropped”.
There at the employee’s entrance there were new gates and people inspecting staff bags for valuable items when work finished for the day.
The upshot of the story was that a vast majority of the taps we had been selling were being pilfered and sold at scrap yards for cash!
This story is purely for historical reasons and bears no malice to anyone past or present.
