Technical Library

**silverspider** · #1 (**permalink**) 07-05-2007, 12:28 PM

I floated this before but it would be nice to have a thread/technical library where people could upload diagrams, schematics, useful articles, etc.

**lowmileage** · #2 (**permalink**) 07-05-2007, 12:35 PM

Either that or we'll give you our address and you can drop the envelope off with the photo(s), diagram(s) or whatever in our mailbox at night so we'd have them in the morning

right before we start the project.

**silverspider** · #3 (**permalink**) 07-05-2007, 12:41 PM

Shouldn't you be responding to unsolicited cellphone offers or something.

Tubolare Zagato · #4 (**permalink**) 07-29-2007, 01:56 AM

Another good thing would be to have a full article on the diagnosis of each basic system of an automobile. So the members will be able to read it without having to start a new thread or searching through 100s of threads.

alfsedan · #5 (**permalink**) 08-13-2007, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silverspider

I floated this before but it would be nice to have a thread/technical library where people could upload diagrams, schematics, useful articles, etc.

Pat Braden · #6 (**permalink**) 08-13-2007, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silverspider

I floated this before but it would be nice to have a thread/technical library where people could upload diagrams, schematics, useful articles, etc.

dretceterini · #7 (**permalink**) 08-14-2007, 11:36 AM

Does anyone have any idea what ever happened with the library in Santa Barbara that Tompkins was putting together?

Pat Braden · #8 (**permalink**) 08-14-2007, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dretceterini

Does anyone have any idea what ever happened with the library in Santa Barbara that Tompkins was putting together?

**alfaman** · #9 (**permalink**) 10-03-2007, 03:27 PM

what a great library tommy tompkins had...and what a helpful person..

i spend an wonderful afternoon with the tompkins many years ago.....hope she is doing well

anyway you guys would not believe the factory material and parts tommy had....all you had to to was call him and he'd copy and send what every material you asked for

the best part of his collection was his alfa factory tools...most were new

he had about 6 to 8 cars as i remember (about 4 2600 sprints and gtv's)
and had great knowledge about the marquee...i miss the guy!

dretceterini · #10 (**permalink**) 10-04-2007, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pat Braden

I've had several people inquire about its whereabouts and condition. The last I heard his widow had it and was not willing to talk to anyone about it, its condition, its ultimate resting place etc. She has not been returning calls or letters is what I've heard from those that have tried to contact her.

There may be a reason other than she is overwhelmed; there is some question over the legitmacy of the library and how parts of it were obtained. Read: legal action if it suddenly surfaced and certain items were contained within it.

Pat Braden · #11 (**permalink**) 10-04-2007, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dretceterini

Sorry, but my view is somewhat different. There was a substantial number of things I LEANT to the library to be copied and returned, which I never got back. Tompkins would also try and badger people into giving him things instead of paying for them, and he was far from a poor man...

Alfoonery · #12 (**permalink**) 10-04-2007, 09:35 AM

As Stu and Sheryl can tell you, I too had similar problems with the "non-profit" Santa Barbara Alfa library (remember it was advertised as such in the alfa Owner. Unfortunately all that material is still sitting in heaps deteriorating as we speak....

The best source of untapped Alfa technical data has to be in the back issues of the Alfa Owner. A few years ago an effort was made to compile the data resulting in the SPICA and Bosch Injection manuals (though it appears the SPICA manual no longer appears to be available through the club). It's a shame the idea was not pursued as such columns as Russ Baer's "Giulietcettera" column had a wealth of practical data.

**alfaman** · #13 (**permalink**) 10-04-2007, 10:07 AM

wow..it's something how people can have different opinions on someone through widely different experiences

my experience was i was somewhat fed up on buying from the national alfa club...(thought they were the ones more profit driven)

in my case he literally offered to give me a 73 gtv, never got charged for items copied or tools loaned....i gave him some of my literature to copy..got it back (although just a few things)......having said that, hope everyone gets their items back

Alfoonery · #14 (**permalink**) 10-04-2007, 11:12 AM

This was truly a Jeckyl and Hyde situation and a sore point to many people....... This story may best sum this up -A couple weeks before he died, I got a phone call from Tom telling me he was not doing well and asking if I could come up from LA to visit him. I was a bit hesitant as I felt taken advantage of in the past. But after he had called a couple more times, I felt sorry for him having watched his physical deterioration over past year and decided to drive up and pay him a visit.So I drove an hour and half to his house where I was greeted by his wife. Pleasent as ever, she offered me a cup of coffee (amazing what I'll do for a cup of coffee.....) and asked me to wait in their den. By this time their home had been overcome by boxes floor to ceiling of Alfa books and literature Tom had bought in bulk from various enthusiasts selling off their collections and publishers selling off their old stock. She wheeled him into the room. His appearance had changed dramatically - he was very frail, bald with a small cap to keep his head warm. His wife said we had only fifteen minutes to talk as Tom tired easily. He mentioned how glad he was to see me and we talked a while longer until one point he asked if there were any Alfa books I needed for my collection. Having started him on this kick a couple years earlier I told him not really – but there were two common titles I was missing but had neglected to pick up. He asked to turn around, and on the shelf were multiple copies of each. He asked if I would like a copy of each and I said sure and thanked him for the thought, but it wasn't necessary as that was not there reason I had come to visit. He insisted and then said the price on one was $25 and $50 for the other. I was taken aback – I would have said go ahead and take them but that’s me…… I told Tom I didn’t have more than a twenty on me as I had not come to buy Alfa books. If he wanted I could take the books and mail him a check when I got home that day. He said no, he would hold them and until I came back and paid him in cash. A couple minutes later, his wife came in our time was up and wheeled Tom out of the room. I never forgot the sinking feeling I had as I drove home – friends don’t treat friends that way…..

Alfoonery · #15 (**permalink**) 10-04-2007, 11:23 AM

Pat Braden told me on several occasions how betrayed he felt on how he was treated by Tom. Pat had given him his complete (to that date) set of Alfa Owners to copy and return and had never gotten them back.

My monument to gullibility is the new Alfa two sided dealer sign (I had an extra) still in the crate I had traded him for literature I never recieved. I beleive it still resting in his adjascent car port corroding away after all these years.