Posted by Sherman in Idaho [72.47.153.105] on Wednesday, November 27, 2013 at 01:03:37 :
In Reply to: Shout out to San Jose Generator posted by scott 56 [24.130.234.60] on Tuesday, November 26, 2013 at 10:23:46 :
That sounds just like Frenchy at the old Auto Electric shop in Everett. I once went in looking for a 6 volt mechanical regulator and he pulled one off the shelf new in the box, probably made back in the 40's, still had a lead seal on the cover. Then he insisted on putting it on his machine and calibrating it for me just to make sure it was right after sitting all those years. To top it off, he wouldn't even take money for it. He said nobody wants those old 6 volt regulators any more anyway. Frenchy was an old German and if you got him going it was pretty clear he thought the wrong side had won the war.
He had to retire, though, and he sold the shop to a couple of yuppies who didn't even want to sell me a pair of brushes unless I'd pay them to install them. Never went back. Same thing in Spokane. Spokane Auto Electric used to be one of those old-time "little guy" shops, but the last time I was there there were a bunch of squirrelly-looking urban characters working there, including the owner, who gave every indication of having learned their trade by stealing stereos and hot-wiring cars. All I wanted was a bendix for a starter. Somewhere in the back he found a half-decent used one the old guy had left behind, and he decided I needed it bad so he just named a high figure and basically said take it or leave it.