Please return that spanner!
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Sir,
Whilst returning through France in early July in my 1934 Aston Martin, I stopped to assist the owner of an MG TF in which the fan blades were fouling the radiator core owing to the failure of the water-pump bearings.
He showed me the set of bicycle spanners which constitutes the tool-kit with which the car is supplied and, as none of these were of the right size, I lent him a spanner so that he could subsequently remove the fan blades and thus avoid damage to the radiator.
This spanner has not been returned and although only worth a few shillings, this type of experience tends to discourage one from bothering to stop and assist people in diffieulties on the roadside. Surely it is not too much trouble to return equipment loaned by a fellow enthusiast, especially as the incident occurred on foreign soil and the delinquent was many miles from the nearest BMC agents ?
Incidentally, it was interesting to read of David Scott-Moncrieff’s experiences concerning his inability to obtain TF spares. The owner mentioned above had found it impossible to obtain new steering arms for his car and eventually, after a delay of about three months, the near-side one had to be specially re-imported from South Africa.
I am, Yours. etc,
Martin George, London, SW10.
[A letter can be forwarded.—Ed]