Blakes Lavac Taylors - "having a laugh"?

vyv_cox said:
You may remember a TV programme a decade or so ago in which a captain of industry visited various companies with the aim of assisting with streamlining, cutting out production bottlenecks and increasing profits. In all cases except one his suggestions were met with grateful thanks and implemented. He then visited Morgan Cars and went nearly apoplectic at the 1930s style production methods, which included building the chassis in one building and then using three blokes to push it from there to the body shop. The company rejected every suggestion, stating that they built their cars in that way because that was what the customers wanted.
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Was that the same chap that tried to help the NHS on one of the episodes. He concluded too many chiefs (with poor skills) and the indians should be running things. The consultants actually wanted to run things and were begging to do so, but were not allowed. Not a single suggestion was listened to. It was the first time he had come across an organisation in the series that did not listen to him and improve. He admitted defeat. I must have missed the Morgan episode.
 
It was the late John Harvey Jones. I visited Morgan factory recently and they are still building the 4/4 in the same old way but the new Aero model is slightly more up to date - some parts are outsourced.As far as the NHS is concerned: I can't see any point in employing highly skilled consultants as managers and where NHS has come unstuck recently is by being to employee oriented and not sufficiently focussed on patient needs, I don't think having consultants running the show would help in this respect.
ltcom said:
Was that the same chap that tried to help the NHS on one of the episodes. He concluded too many chiefs (with poor skills) and the indians should be running things. The consultants actually wanted to run things and were begging to do so, but were not allowed. Not a single suggestion was listened to. It was the first time he had come across an organisation in the series that did not listen to him and improve. He admitted defeat. I must have missed the Morgan episode.
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8000 quid? Who's gonna pay that for a bog? The Blake's are well made admittedly but I'd go for an electric if money (and power) were unlimited not some relic of a bygone age. Is the Victory as fitted to Nelson's flagship?
 
ghostlymoron said:
It was the late John Harvey Jones. I visited Morgan factory recently and they are still building the 4/4 in the same old way but the new Aero model is slightly more up to date - some parts are outsourced.
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Despite what some will have you believe, Peter and Charles Morgan did listen to JH-J and made significant changes during the 1990s and into the 2000s, particularly improving the quality of the product and then moving up market with the Aero cars which as you say are completely different from the traditional ones. I bought a new 4/4 in 2003 after looking at used ones as the differences are significant such as pressure treated wood, galvanised chassis, stainless steel scuttle framework, blown moulded wings (as opposed to hand beaten - and all slightly different!). A new one was not a lot of money more than 5-10 year old examples so to me there was no contest. Still have it and have spent little on it, but worth more than I paid (in money terms).
 
I have a Lavac head that the seal was giving greef in that you almost had to stand on the seat when closed to get vacuum in the bowl.

I found 3 old Lavac's in the marina skip with good seals and good seals. One of the seals was a white rubber type seal with an extended lip that sealed up against the bowl and seat. Titting this made all the difference so much I had to open the vent hole in the inlet to stop the bowl filling completely with water after flushing.

I do have a pic but you cannot sea the white seal against the white seat.

Has anyone else seem a white Lavac seat seal with an extended lip as this is the best design I have seen.


I have just converted my old Jabsco head to electric with a pressure water pump for rinse water and a whale diaphram pump for the flush.
 
Rogershaw said:
I have a Lavac head that the seal was giving greef in that you almost had to stand on the seat when closed to get vacuum in the bowl.

I found 3 old Lavac's in the marina skip with good seals and good seals. One of the seals was a white rubber type seal with an extended lip that sealed up against the bowl and seat. Titting this made all the difference so much I had to open the vent hole in the inlet to stop the bowl filling completely with water after flushing.

I do have a pic but you cannot sea the white seal against the white seat.

Has anyone else seem a white Lavac seat seal with an extended lip as this is the best design I have seen.


I have just converted my old Jabsco head to electric with a pressure water pump for rinse water and a whale diaphram pump for the flush.
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That sounds like the seal on mine Roger. When i bought the boat it had different seals, but there was a new set of the seals that you describe, onboard. I fitted the new ones because they look nicer and kept the old ones as spares, they do, as you say, work really well.

Are they like these ? https://www.sparesmarine.co.uk/webs...067knew-set-of-lid-seat-seals-popular-toilet/
 
Tranona said:
Despite what some will have you believe, Peter and Charles Morgan did listen to JH-J and made significant changes during the 1990s and into the 2000s, particularly improving the quality of the product and then moving up market with the Aero cars which as you say are completely different from the traditional ones. I bought a new 4/4 in 2003 after looking at used ones as the differences are significant such as pressure treated wood, galvanised chassis, stainless steel scuttle framework, blown moulded wings (as opposed to hand beaten - and all slightly different!). A new one was not a lot of money more than 5-10 year old examples so to me there was no contest. Still have it and have spent little on it, but worth more than I paid (in money terms).
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That's nice to know. It's a long time since I had a (pre J H-J) Morgan but I liked him and I like Morgans, so it gave me a nice warm glow.
 
Minn said:
That's nice to know. It's a long time since I had a (pre J H-J) Morgan but I liked him and I like Morgans, so it gave me a nice warm glow.
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Just been out in mine to the yacht club to arrange a lift and powerwash for tomorrow. Later will take my lab for a ride (in the footwell) to her favourite walking place. Never sure whether she likes the ride or not!
 
PaulRainbow said:
That sounds like the seal on mine Roger. When i bought the boat it had different seals, but there was a new set of the seals that you describe, onboard. I fitted the new ones because they look nicer and kept the old ones as spares, they do, as you say, work really well.

Are they like these ? https://www.sparesmarine.co.uk/webs...067knew-set-of-lid-seat-seals-popular-toilet/
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Yes Paul it does look the same.

Mine Lavac is very old as it does not have the plastic base and the outlet is glued in the porcelain bow.

I did have to stretch the seal to fit the lid but I did eventually get it to fit.

Thks for the link.
 
I have a treasured micrometer from my Uncle, given when he heard I was going to be an engineer. It was the Morgan Engineering Prize from Malvern Collage. He was a brilliant engineer, but after war service, became an accountant because his father dictated. A delightful man. but a loss to engineering.
 
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