Factory Sherriff's sale

[alwaysoar]

Re: Factory Sherriff's sale

All of this aside, I'm going to put in a good word for Harry. He doesn't get many good words, but a few days ago I called the factory with a technical question. Harry was responsive over three phone calls, found the answer, called me back; in other words, great customer service for me who's not even a customer. My take on the sale and all is that, if Taylorcraft were going out, why would the president be so helpful and responsive?

While I'm at it, thank you Forrest for your responses to my emails. Flying a 60-year-old airplane can be a worrisome proposition given certain inevitable wear and tear, but knowledgeable and detailed help takes a lot of the worry out of flying.

Ed@BTV VT
TF 527

[hangarb7]

Re: Factory Sherriff's sale

OK, cudos to Harry for you. But it seems for every good comment (and there have been some, and I have gotten some good answers and parts from the factory) there seems to be a bunch of disgruntled folks. Way too many complaining and wishing for better service.

For me, I have called and left messages for Harry and have sent him e-mail questions regarding parts availability, and he has NEVER called or responded in three years.

So does anybody find it interesting that if we have the story correct, the factory is having a sheriff's sale in "2404 Wilson Road in Harlingen, TX"...

Is this the Brownsville location? Why wouldn't it be? Has Harry already moved some of the stuff?

Jack D
N44057

[M Towsley]

Re: Factory Sherriff's sale

Jack,

I just related what was told to me. I too called the factory with a part question a couple of weeks ago, never got a call back.

Alwaysoar, how do you get Forrest to e-mail you back??? After multiple e-mails, a phone call everyday, (except Sat-Mon), since Oshkosh and a phone message I left with his wife last Friday, all still goes unanswered. What is your secret???

[alwaysoar]

Re: Factory Sherriff's sale

I believe Forrest likes to know you're Foundation member. He gets a lot of calls etc. from those who are not. I include my membership number when I email him. I've always gotten a pretty quick answer unless he's away doing sheriff training or some such. Good guy, he must be swamped.

Ed@BTV VT
TF 527

[Sloanlow]

Re: Factory Sherriff's sale

Tribe

Am I mistaken or overlooking somthing. If you dont have the type certificate or the right to manufacture T-Carts, what would you want with a truck load of jigs. Hold them hostage? Sell on E-Bay etc.........

Do you think someone would bid on what amounts to a pile of junk without the paper to go with it. What am I missing?

Jim A.

[crispy critter]

Re: Factory Sherriff's sale

Can anyone close go down and confirm what is going up for sale? If they are of any value can we all go in together and buy them. There has been a lot of discussion about the club/foundation buying the rights and tools,but if this is the way it's going to go then can we buy it a piece at a time??? I don't think we should let them get away if we can do anything about it. I know this is all really short notice but does anyone have any ideas? I am willing to put up an equal share.

[VictorBravo]

Re: Factory Sherriff's sale

Tribe
what would you want with a truck load of jigs. Hold them hostage?
What am I missing?

Jim A.

Well, sort of hostage.

FIRST, If you have the tooling, which is an expensive pile of stuff to recreate, then the type certificate isn't worth much without the tooling. Since Taylorcraft doesn't have much of a profitable history, and the profits are apparently very small, the owner of the TC would never spend the money to build new jigs if he wanted to make whole airplanes. The owner of the TC would NEED the involvement of whoever owned the jigs. So, it the Taylorcraft Foundation had them, then the Foundation would be ale to exert control over who built airplanes and how. We could more or less prevent any riff raff from doing another Zerbach / Polychron / Jim Bede routine.

SECOND, if you own the original jigs and tools, you have a fast track to getting PMA certified to build replacement parts. Even without the original TC. So if we had the jigs, we could build parts to support the existing fleet, and I suspect THAT is reasonably profitable (as well as desperately needed by the Taylorcraft world).

THIRD, it would open up the possibility of selling kits for homebuilders (if desired), LSA amateur built kits, etc.

Let's remember that building parts is how Cub Crafters started and grew into a stable business.

IMHO, I suspect that the jigs and production tooling might be more valuable than the actual type certificate. I am almost certain they are more valuable to the Club/Foundation than the TC paper. Ownership of the Type Certificate is more prestigious, but what we WOULD do with the tooling is far more important than what we may someday do with the TC.

[cpirrmann]

Re: Factory Sherriff's sale

Jack,

I just related what was told to me. I too called the factory with a part question a couple of weeks ago, never got a call back.

Alwaysoar, how do you get Forrest to e-mail you back??? After multiple e-mails, a phone call everyday, (except Sat-Mon), since Oshkosh and a phone message I left with his wife last Friday, all still goes unanswered. What is your secret???

I have NEVER been able to get Forrest ot respond to me in any fashipn, member number or not. I did talk to his wife? briefly to leave a message. Very nice lady.

VB, I agree 100%! You make enough parts, and kits/airplanes are not such a huge leap. Hopefully by then, you're well capitalized and known.

[N96337]

Re: Factory Sherriff's sale

Think about this guys.... I doubt that they'd be selling off fuselage jigs or any others that are complex or terribly important. Manufacturing requires LOTS of "jigs", so it could be as simple as a "jig" that locates some holes on something.... I wouldn't read too much into it.
While I'm commenting, even if all of us bought the "rights" and TC and tooling, it's a LONG ways from being able to do anything with any of it... just because you own it, doesn't give you the rights to produce anything for sale! The FAA MIDO has miles of paperwork and training, and procedures and paperwork and specs and paperwork and inspections, (and did I say paperwork???) to get through before anyone can go to work producing parts for sale...been there, and seen that already... It's not quite as easy as it sounds!
I think the best advice is to sit back and see what happens...
JH

[Ragwing nut]

Re: Factory Sherriff's sale

Think about this guys.... I doubt that they'd be selling off fuselage jigs or any others that are complex or terribly important. Manufacturing requires LOTS of "jigs", so it could be as simple as a "jig" that locates some holes on something.... I wouldn't read too much into it.
While I'm commenting, even if all of us bought the "rights" and TC and tooling, it's a LONG ways from being able to do anything with any of it... just because you own it, doesn't give you the rights to produce anything for sale! The FAA MIDO has miles of paperwork and training, and procedures and paperwork and specs and paperwork and inspections, (and did I say paperwork???) to get through before anyone can go to work producing parts for sale...been there, and seen that already... It's not quite as easy as it sounds!
I think the best advice is to sit back and see what happens...
JH

No kidding, I have been 6 six years trying to get a Production Certificate for Falcon Propellers. When I finally got PC approval November of last year, I still have no paperwork in my hand and it has been 10 months. Even after I receive my PC certificate, I still can't build without direct FAA oversight until I have a designee liscense for manufacturing (DMIR). I have been building under Type Certificate Production for the last 6 years with MIDO having to inspect every one on the timeline when they can come see me. Trust me it sucks.

The only thing that you could do with jigs is leave them in trustworthy hands of an expert welder/A&P IA so they could be used to maintain the fleet.
Jigs are as CHEAP as lint in your jeans pockets to build and replace compared to the costs of aquiring a new Type Certificate for a new airpane which could easily cost millions today.


Mike

[lfries]

Re: Factory Sherriff's sale

Sheriff probably has nothing to sell unless Harry managed to get everything without encumbering with a Unifor Commercial Code filing. Undoubtedly there is someone who is ahead of everyone and is probably owed more than the value if it is not being put to productive use.

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Factory Sherriff's sale

Forrest does many other things too!
I am really sorry that I had to stay out of this one so long, the person who got the Court action for the sale called me right up front first thing. He sent me a fax of the notice of sale. I am talking with two companies who wish to produce parts and THEY will be there at 10AM tomorrow.
I have viewed photos of the articles going up for sale, I have notified the propective bidders of my opinion of their value. Harry is still hung up on the "disgruntled" employee and even blamed me..... Hell , he hired him!!!
Winston, Joe & others should come into the discussion and state facts.
I too have copies of other court action thah has taken place. I am at a loss for words, WE have many many members who have put money down and got nothing, they call me , I tell them to call the factory. I have no connection with the factory , I put no money into it, I have ordered nothing, the factory has chosen to remain apart from the Foundation. NO the Foundation will not try for the Type Certificates, I do not have the deep pockets of the Luscombe Foundation folks that really got into problems... lets see what happens tomorrow!! I offered to go there to assist any of the bidders, no takers so far. There are many good comments in the past 6 days and for the sake of my blood pressure and recently acquired thin skin I ahve chosen not to log on until tonight. For the fellow reaching my wife, she is a good person and really cannot say where I have been.... it was for the good of the Country.

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Factory Sherriff's sale

comment #2 , lots of reading to do here on this thread ., YES the fellow with the UCC claim (H.P.) was probably never paid for the company to begin with, I say probably since I do not know and don't care.......
Chris ( cripperman) will get his answers on Tues. I am working e-mails from the week after OSH at the moment. UNLESS they are orders or quickly needed information to get ships back into the air.

anybody?? are u following the new ideas from D&E aircraft owned by Harvey Patrick www.de-aircraft.com these were the folks at OSH that had the Taylorcraft airfoil wings on the Cubby hmmmmm
I was told Mr. Ingram had a Taylorcraft fuselage there for a couple of days at the start of OSH ( Airventure)
Does anybody know, where is the LS Taylorcraft, Jim Zannager, Jon Timlin any Sales Reps , factory , anybody. ?? more tomorrow back to the forumn for me been off for way to long... bye the way the Aeronca Fly-IN was rained out, Marion EAA MERFI was rained on too! NE Ohio is bad...for VFR

[mhorowit]

Re: Factory Sherriff's sale

... and recently acquired thin skin... . .

Forrest has been off to sensitivity training!!!

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Factory Sherriff's sale

Hi Mike love you too , Forrest
It is better today. Bob Ollerton & I talked quite a bit tonight. More tomorrow....