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Hello to everyone in the field:
There comes a time when we all decide to purchase a major detection unit
and wonder if the unit has a good reputation: if the company will back us up
when it comes time for support, repairs, etc.; before we let go of the big
bucks that we'll never see again...
So we jump on the forums and see what everyone else has to say about a
particular unit and/or company that we are interested in dealing with...
So, I'm posting this note to let everyone know about my recent experience
with Elsec, Littlemore Scientific, Gutchpool Farm, Gillingham, Dorset SP8 5QP,
UK, Tel: 01747 835550, Fax: 01747 835552; thereby letting this stand as a
record for future referrence for all to go by; should they be considering
dealing with this company.
I'll try to keep this as short as possible; as it's a looooong story:
Back in 1980 (...hey, I said this was long...), I purchased an Elsec 700E
detector from Littlemore and was very happy with its performance.
(This unit has a very interesting historical past - Atocha, Santa Margarita, etc.)
There came a time when this unit was folded, spindled and otherwise
mutilated through the carelessness and negligence of a crew member; and I
must stress the fact that it had nothing to do with the quality and/or
workmanship of the construction of the device.
The electronics section was litterally broken and ripped apart.
At the time, the person responsible did the right thing by sending the unit
to a *supposedly* authorized repair person to put it all back together again.
This was done without my knowledge or consent (NOT the right thing).
Well, this 'authorized' repair person not only replaced parts with inferior
junk; but the parts weren't even anywhere near what the equivalents should
have been...
...and, this person's work looked as if they had soldered the resulting
bundle of spaghetti with a cigarette lighter.
Structural pieces were "repaired" with the, "...hey, here's somethin' that if
we bend it a little, might fit..." method of engineering.
Anyway, the detector never worked again and just sat around for some 27 years.
So now I decide to resurrect my beloved 700E; but I have to locate, at
least, some kind of parts list before I can do anything...
Okay, Littlemore is still around; so I guess it's worth a shot to see if they
can help out.
I half-heartedly rattle off an e-mail to them; and you guys know how that
goes - you do it not really expecting them to even bother reading it...
...or, if they do, they want you to send the unit back to them somewhere
on the other side of the planet.
Anyways, a few days later, to my amazement (...actually, shock...); I
receive an e-mail back from a guy named "William Hall" containing seven
(...count 'em * 7 * ) scans of schematics and wiring diagrams showing the
correct part numbers and what goes where!
The first thing that comes to mind is that this dude "William" (...probably a
secretary; or somebody they got to take on-line orders or something...) is
gonna be boiled in oil, fried, baked, sacked, drawn and quartered; and then
become shark-bait for sending out the workings of one of the (...if not
"the"...) finest detectors in the world!
Well, to keep it short, I rebuild the unit and get it working again; but there
are many pots to play with for the timing and widths and all the other fun
stuff that our "repair person" twisted in all directions without rhyme nor reason.
So, well, okay; this guy "William" was 'looney-tunes' enough to send out
one of the company's secrets; maybe, if he still works there (or is still alive),
he'll send me more info if I ask:
Sure enough, I receive another e-mail containing a PDF of the original
operating manual, 4 more scans of the boards showing all the parts
placements and test points, and a hand-written set of step-by-step
instructions containing text and diagrams of the scope readings and
waveforms for the setup and adjustment of all the timing, pulsewidth, volt &
amp specs, test point readings; and a note with the hopes that I get it all
working again!
Now I know for sure they're gonna HANG this guy "William", who(whom?)ever he is...
I now set up my unit according to the instructions and - 'lo and behold - I
have my old 700E purring along as it was on day one...
People, I can't speak for anyone else; but to me this is waaaaay above and
beyond what I would call "satisfactory support" from a manufacturor -
regardless of the time period involved.
This is a very rare phenomenom; once known as "kindness".
Now I'm not trying to make this sound like an advertisement; but, if you're
looking for, in my opinion, the finest equipment anywhere, and you want to
deal with a company that has MORE than proven to honestly care - and not
with the "...we got yer cash {insert name here}, now scram!" attitude, then
go check out the brand new model 5000 detector at the Elsec sight:
http://www.elsec.com/acatalog/uwmd.html
I've already ordered mine.
I'd just like to say that I do not have any ties with Littlemore Scientific; I'm
not a sales rep, nor do I have any stock in the company:
You can tell them I sent you or not - it makes no difference.
It's just that when there is a manufacturer in our field that makes the finest
equipment available AND gives this kind of support, then WE should support
them also; it only makes it better for us all in the long run by allowing them
to continue making even better equipment and offer it at a lower cost.
Anyway, this is just my way of saying "Thank You" to a company that could
have just blew-off my request with a much easier, "...we do not support that
model anymore..."
Well, I'm sorry this got a little long; but thanks for reading this far...
Oh, and BTW, I found out who this guy "William Hall" is that cared enough to
jeopardize his job by sending me all the data:
...he's the owner of the company.
All the best to everyone,
Niki
P.S. - As an electronics designer/engineer/manufacturer myself, I know the
"value" of something that may be a "company secret". Although we never
discussed the issue, as a mutual respect and professional courtesy to Mr.
Hall, I've accepted all the documents he has sent to me as being for "my
eyes only". So please guys, do not ask me for any schematics or diagrams;
as I cannot send out, nor post any of them. Thanks for understanding.
There comes a time when we all decide to purchase a major detection unit
and wonder if the unit has a good reputation: if the company will back us up
when it comes time for support, repairs, etc.; before we let go of the big
bucks that we'll never see again...
So we jump on the forums and see what everyone else has to say about a
particular unit and/or company that we are interested in dealing with...
So, I'm posting this note to let everyone know about my recent experience
with Elsec, Littlemore Scientific, Gutchpool Farm, Gillingham, Dorset SP8 5QP,
UK, Tel: 01747 835550, Fax: 01747 835552; thereby letting this stand as a
record for future referrence for all to go by; should they be considering
dealing with this company.
I'll try to keep this as short as possible; as it's a looooong story:
Back in 1980 (...hey, I said this was long...), I purchased an Elsec 700E
detector from Littlemore and was very happy with its performance.
(This unit has a very interesting historical past - Atocha, Santa Margarita, etc.)
There came a time when this unit was folded, spindled and otherwise
mutilated through the carelessness and negligence of a crew member; and I
must stress the fact that it had nothing to do with the quality and/or
workmanship of the construction of the device.
The electronics section was litterally broken and ripped apart.
At the time, the person responsible did the right thing by sending the unit
to a *supposedly* authorized repair person to put it all back together again.
This was done without my knowledge or consent (NOT the right thing).
Well, this 'authorized' repair person not only replaced parts with inferior
junk; but the parts weren't even anywhere near what the equivalents should
have been...
...and, this person's work looked as if they had soldered the resulting
bundle of spaghetti with a cigarette lighter.
Structural pieces were "repaired" with the, "...hey, here's somethin' that if
we bend it a little, might fit..." method of engineering.
Anyway, the detector never worked again and just sat around for some 27 years.
So now I decide to resurrect my beloved 700E; but I have to locate, at
least, some kind of parts list before I can do anything...
Okay, Littlemore is still around; so I guess it's worth a shot to see if they
can help out.
I half-heartedly rattle off an e-mail to them; and you guys know how that
goes - you do it not really expecting them to even bother reading it...
...or, if they do, they want you to send the unit back to them somewhere
on the other side of the planet.
Anyways, a few days later, to my amazement (...actually, shock...); I
receive an e-mail back from a guy named "William Hall" containing seven
(...count 'em * 7 * ) scans of schematics and wiring diagrams showing the
correct part numbers and what goes where!
The first thing that comes to mind is that this dude "William" (...probably a
secretary; or somebody they got to take on-line orders or something...) is
gonna be boiled in oil, fried, baked, sacked, drawn and quartered; and then
become shark-bait for sending out the workings of one of the (...if not
"the"...) finest detectors in the world!
Well, to keep it short, I rebuild the unit and get it working again; but there
are many pots to play with for the timing and widths and all the other fun
stuff that our "repair person" twisted in all directions without rhyme nor reason.
So, well, okay; this guy "William" was 'looney-tunes' enough to send out
one of the company's secrets; maybe, if he still works there (or is still alive),
he'll send me more info if I ask:
Sure enough, I receive another e-mail containing a PDF of the original
operating manual, 4 more scans of the boards showing all the parts
placements and test points, and a hand-written set of step-by-step
instructions containing text and diagrams of the scope readings and
waveforms for the setup and adjustment of all the timing, pulsewidth, volt &
amp specs, test point readings; and a note with the hopes that I get it all
working again!
Now I know for sure they're gonna HANG this guy "William", who(whom?)ever he is...
I now set up my unit according to the instructions and - 'lo and behold - I
have my old 700E purring along as it was on day one...
People, I can't speak for anyone else; but to me this is waaaaay above and
beyond what I would call "satisfactory support" from a manufacturor -
regardless of the time period involved.
This is a very rare phenomenom; once known as "kindness".
Now I'm not trying to make this sound like an advertisement; but, if you're
looking for, in my opinion, the finest equipment anywhere, and you want to
deal with a company that has MORE than proven to honestly care - and not
with the "...we got yer cash {insert name here}, now scram!" attitude, then
go check out the brand new model 5000 detector at the Elsec sight:
http://www.elsec.com/acatalog/uwmd.html
I've already ordered mine.
I'd just like to say that I do not have any ties with Littlemore Scientific; I'm
not a sales rep, nor do I have any stock in the company:
You can tell them I sent you or not - it makes no difference.
It's just that when there is a manufacturer in our field that makes the finest
equipment available AND gives this kind of support, then WE should support
them also; it only makes it better for us all in the long run by allowing them
to continue making even better equipment and offer it at a lower cost.
Anyway, this is just my way of saying "Thank You" to a company that could
have just blew-off my request with a much easier, "...we do not support that
model anymore..."
Well, I'm sorry this got a little long; but thanks for reading this far...
Oh, and BTW, I found out who this guy "William Hall" is that cared enough to
jeopardize his job by sending me all the data:
...he's the owner of the company.
All the best to everyone,
Niki
P.S. - As an electronics designer/engineer/manufacturer myself, I know the
"value" of something that may be a "company secret". Although we never
discussed the issue, as a mutual respect and professional courtesy to Mr.
Hall, I've accepted all the documents he has sent to me as being for "my
eyes only". So please guys, do not ask me for any schematics or diagrams;
as I cannot send out, nor post any of them. Thanks for understanding.
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