(ET) ETs After Bill Gunn

["Darryl McMahon" <darryl econogics com>]

Bill's departure from the scene will be a real loss to all of us.  I 
ordered from 
him several times, and had conversations about continuity of the Elec-Trak 
part of 
his business a couple of times, probably 3-4 years ago now.  

I am not prepared to just send my ET off to the scrap yard because Bill is 
moving 
on to (an undoubtedly well-deserved) retirement.

So, I think there are a couple of things we can do in the short term.  

Following up on Ken Stieg's post, we can start a list of alternate 
replacement 
parts.  I had started something like this years ago, but let it slide in 
favour of 
directing the business to Bill.  However, with the recent news, I think 
that should 
be resurrected.  I think Don Barry's site (elec-trak.org) is the 
appropriate place 
for that, but if Don is too busy, I will take on compiling the list and 
putting it 
on my website.  (I may be behind the times, but I seem to recall that Don 
was not 
keeping up at the site - not a criticism, I'm in no position to throw 
stones - just 
my recollection.  I also don't know if Don would be prepared to farm out 
parts of 
the maintenance chores.)

The thing we will really miss will be Bill's knowledge and expertise.  I 
don't 
think there is any way to replace that, but as a poor substitute, we could 
create a 
Repair & Troubleshooting FAQ area with problems encountered and fixed 
(which may 
often lead us back to the various manuals - some of which are on-line now 
- and 
presumably more can be in the future, or the list of alternate parts 
sources listed 
above).  Again, I think elec-trak.org is the right place for this 
information as 
well.  I'm not volunteering to organize or compile this list, but if 
someone else 
will, and Don won't take on putting it on the web, I will take that on as 
well.  
Beyond that, I expect this list will end up taking up the slack, and 
someone should 
take on harvesting new information that appears here and adding it to the 
R&T FAQs.

I have nothing to offer regarding taking over any existing inventory or 
trying to 
set up a co-op.  I have worked in such arrangements before, and I know 
they are a 
lot of work.

Better ideas and volunteers welcomed.

Darryl

-- 
Darryl McMahon      http://www.econogics.com/
It's your planet.  If you won't look after it, who will?