WIX Archives
Re: Best / Worst Restoration facility? & Should they be 'Open'?
Posted by Dick Phillips on Wed Dec 10, 2003 10:28:09 PM
In reply top Best / Worst Restoration facility? & Should they be 'Open'? posted by JDK on Tue Dec 09, 2003 02:07:30 PM
: Hi all,
: Many thanks again for your useful and interesting posts on
: the Museum's thread (next page if you missed it!)
: So here's another. How about your best / worst experience
: visiting a restoration shop or similar. Just a few sugge
: stions -
: 1. Please give at least one positive and one negative, or
: say if you don't have one or other.
: 2. It's how you were treated - NOT what they had to show o
: r how 'important' they are.
: 3. And finally, in your opinion, do restorers have an obl
: ication to open to us and the general public?
From Dick Phillips
I have been visiting museums, private collections, restoration shops and private hangars for over 40 years, and have had very, very little trouble getting access to these types of facilities, if you act in a dignifed mannor, behave yourself and don't act like the "butthole" that TJ mentions in his posting.
On only one occasion in all this time, Have I not been able to tour the facility I wanted to. That was David Arnolds facility at Blackbush Airport in the UK. I was told by the workers in the hangar, that they did not have the authority to let me in, and that only David himself could have the say on that. He was expected to arrive there at any moment. I waited patiently outside with my English friend that I had brought along on the visit. While we were waiting, another Englishman and his son, about 10 or 12 years of age, came up and talked to the same worker, but didn't want to take "no" for an answer. He made a complete ass of himself and while he had the worker all fired up, Arnold drove up, and asked what all the fuss was about.
The end result was that Arnold kicked those other two off the property and while he was "cleaning house" told me I would have to leave too. So, I did not get to visit Arnolds Blackbush facility when I had hoped to. I think this was in about 1982. By my next visit to the UK, he was moved out of there.