Re: (ET) ETs After Bill Gunn

[alleights att net]

Bill Gunn helped me alot.  I'll miss him.

As I have watched the discusion evolve about what to do now, I have not 
noticed anyone suggest an off-shore solution.  If anyone has a China 
connection (or knows of one), this might be an option.  

Much of China's explosive growth is founded on very good small companies 
that are long on manufacturing capabilities but short on design knowledge. 
 If Bill has (and would be willing to part with) comprehensive 
manufacturing drawings, maybe they could be presented to a good Chinese 
builder and many issues could be solved at once: 
   new machines would be available to capitalize on the expected 
continuation of higher gas prices and more environmental awareness,
   parts would be no problem because they would just be produced via 
longer runs than needed for manufacture of new units, 
   someone with entrepreneurial bent could have a low-cost way to get his 
"dream business" going,
   etc.  

The Chinese factories make extensive use of inexpensive (but good) hand 
labor so the cost of manufacture (even in short runs) can be very low.  
They don't have the costly long set-up times that are becoming more common 
in highly mechanized American factories and which really drive up the cost 
of short runs.

Just a thought ...