BMC located it's Repair and Parts depot in Hamilton, Ontario in the early 50's. From time to time at flea markets in southern Ontario, various technical manuals, documents, papers, binders, whatever, appear. I have a habit of checking under vendor's tables and browsing through "stuff". Over the years I have found a number interesting things.

The above noted "Austin Service Journal" was picked up about a decade ago at a local flea market. It was in the bottom of a box of binders dealing with mostly North American cars located under a vendors table. It covers the years 1960 - 1961 and contains technical updates for the entire range of vehicles provided by BMC in Canada. It seems to have originated in the UK and was distributed to all distributors and dealers. From the binder, I have abstracted the pages that pertain to the Austin Healey [100-4, 100-6, 3000, and Sprite] and those that are of generic interest and put them into a separate binder. Following this note is an "msword" index attachment.

In a similar fashion, I picked up a BMC binder with "Technical Service Bulletin" dated from August 1, 1963 to September 2, 1964. For all models it contains bulletins about service tools, modifications introduced, and repair issues with suggested solutions. The first page states:

"These (Technical Service Bulletins) will be printed on yellow paper identical to that used in this Bulletin. They can be filed in the brown-four hold folder - already in your possession, part number AKD 1459. The Bulletins will be BMC in nature and the models covered by each Bulletin will be clearly stated at the top. The usual indexes will be issued from time to time"

There was no index and I have yet to develop my own regarding the Austin Healey. Likewise, I got a sister publication "Parts Information Bulletin" dated from May 1, 1964 to December 10, 1965. The first page states:

"This series, with its own distinctive heading and binder, replaces the precious series which commenced in August 1959. Bulletins from the previous series, which are still relevant, have been re-printed. Where the information has now been incorporated in a current U.K. parts list, the 1964 fast moving Parts Catalogue etc.; the bulletin has been deleted. The intention behind this series of bulletins is to provide parts managers with a convenient source for information which is not otherwise available, to distribute advance information, etc."

Within this binder is a listing of the BMC coding scheme for the "identification from the part number of certain standard parts such as bolts, washer, nuts, etc." Another section deals with "information on the availability of Competition Parts on the various B.M.C. Models and especially on Coopers, Healey Sprites, M.G. Midgets, M.G.A., Austin-Healey and M.G.B." All in all, I have found this binder to be of great interest.

Another binder I found [AKD1459 binder only] contained a "Repair Time Schedule" confidential to BMC distributors and dealers. Among the various saloons and sport cars, it includes the Healey Sprite (Mk.II) & MG Midget, MGB, and Austin Healey 3000 (Mk.II) & BJ7. This complements a schedule for 3000 Mk.II that I came across in the mid-90's and transcribed into a Lotus 123 spread sheet.[at that time, I used the spread sheet as a word processor]. For various jobs on my own 3000 Mk II tricarb, I can readily estimate the time it will take and cost; both are tripled if I try to do it myself.

Earlier this month [September 2002] I attended a large flea market in Barrie, Ontario which requires about 3 solid days to cover it all; which I was not able to do. I did find a special "Lucas Test Data Manual" binder dated April 1965. It covers generators, starting motors, ignition coils, distributors, regulators, etc. This is one binder which is taking some time to go through, but it is of great interest.

These are only some of the documents and binders that have crossed my path over the years. Someday I may even put together a complete inventory of what I have accumulated.

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