Oldskool Ford Service School

[The Yeti]

My connection with ford goes back to before I was born, my dad did his apprenticeship at Hunt Borthers Ford (Thompson Ford) Parramatta (Sydney’s West)


Admin please remove or move if I’ve stuck this in the wrong area


If I do say it myself he was a bit of a gun on FMX & C4’s but I didn’t know why until I was cleaning out mums house with my sister yesterday

[Franco Cozzo]

Ford still trains their own apprentices in house - at least they were a when I was an apprentice.

Other brands mostly just send them to RTOs like Kangan Institute, they're not going to get that specific knowledge on manufacturer product like a manufacturer who trains their own staff in house.

[GTLEGEND]

The inhouse Ford Apprenticeship scheme finished about 2 years ago I gather due to the rising costs for running a national scheme when each individual state has their own rules, meaning you needed several different courses for basically the same thing.

Apprentices are now going back to normal TAFE or other similar schools.

How ever there is Ford specific training that the Technicians go to in a practical environment with Ford trainers at different locations.

[The Yeti]

Originally Posted by GTLEGEND

The inhouse Ford Apprenticeship scheme finished about 2 years ago I gather due to the rising costs for running a national scheme when each individual state has their own rules, meaning you needed several different courses for basically the same thing.

Apprentices are now going back to normal TAFE or other similar schools.

How ever there is Ford specific training that the Technicians go to in a practical environment with Ford trainers at different locations.

The old boy went to tech (tafe) aswell but I get the impression he did a few of these schools

When I did my apprenticeship at Holden we all went apprentices and tradesmen alike, I did one when the VN 5Litre was released, I think YouTube could teach me more about them than I learnt at the Holden collage of knowledge

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by The Yeti

The old boy went to tech (tafe) aswell but I get the impression he did a few of these schools

When I did my apprenticeship at Holden we all went apprentices and tradesmen alike, I did one when the VN 5Litre was released, I think YouTube could teach me more about them than I learnt at the Holden collage of knowledge

We were still working on VN 5L and 3.8L Buick when I went through Kangan Institute course for auto electrical 2010-2013

We had a Holden Gray motor and an RB30 as well.

[The Yeti]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

We were still working on VN 5L and 3.8L Buick when I went through Kangan Institute course for auto electrical 2010-2013

We had a Holden Gray motor and an RB30 as well.

Unrelated but I once painted an RB30 grey and put it in an EJ

My uncle was convinced I’d some how put fuel injection on a repco headed 138

[GTLEGEND]

[QUOTE=The Yeti;6341099]My connection with ford goes back to before I was born, my dad did his apprenticeship at Hunt Borthers Ford (Thompson Ford) Parramatta (Sydney’s West)


Admin please remove or move if I’ve stuck this in the wrong area


If I do say it myself he was a bit of a gun on FMX & C4’s but I didn’t know why until I was cleaning out mums house with my sister yesterday


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I showed the first image of the group photo (where I assume its your dad 2nd from the top left that you circled in yellow) to a friend of mine that was a Ford tech from that era as well and surprise, his response is below. I am yet to show him the others, but will do soon, hope you don't mind.

"Yes some of the faces are familiar but time has dimmed memory.
This photo would have been taken at the Ford training facility which at that time was located in the auburn truck plant on Rawson street.
The centre front row is the trainer at that time by the name of Ross O’Neil who left Ford to take up a management role with Avis hire cars.
The person on Ross’s left was my mechanic trainer at Hastings Deering by the name of Laurie Evans alias “the Doc”.
I recognise a few of the other faces but not names. This was more than likely a Transmission school as that was what Doc specialised in.

I have one with the same trainer but 1965 FMX / fordomatic school which in those days was one week in duration. Bit different to today"

I wonder if he's in the other image that I did not show him, small world and a shame that that generation is moving on and the old how to secrets will be gone with them....

[The Yeti]

That’s exactly what I was hoping would happen “GT Legend”

I can get the names of the participants from the card

Yes it was all for Transmissions

My mums confirmed he specialised in then when he was at ford

He never sang his own praises so I just figured he was “good” I didn’t realise he had done this stuff

[FTE217]

great memories for yourself thanks for posting.

[GTLEGEND]

Yes please share the names, so I can refresh my mates memory..

[4stanger]

I have seen photos and stuff of my dad doing similar in the 60's, I think it was a service course at the Eagle Farm Ford factory in Brisbane, I must go and dig them out at my mum's place and get them copied.

[The Yeti]

Originally Posted by GTLEGEND

Yes please share the names, so I can refresh my mates memory..

[The Yeti]

Originally Posted by 4stanger

I have seen photos and stuff of my dad doing similar in the 60's, I think it was a service course at the Eagle Farm Ford factory in Brisbane, I must go and dig them out at my mum's place and get them copied.

Do it

My dad passed away in his workshop 9 years ago
He was an uncomplicated guy that didn’t blow his own trumpet, so didn’t talk much about this kind of thing

[GTLEGEND]

Now that my friend had time to reflect more on the past and with names to assist, his reply is below:

Now that I have had further time and some names I can recall as I said Laurie Evans,. In the back row of the first photo I think R.Reynolds may be Bob Reynolds who is/was Service Manager at City Ford Mascot for a number of years.
Thinking further back Arthur Kidd was Hunt Bros. Transmission tech. Again I only think as the next photo shows another Hunt Bros. Tech named Peter McDonald who I did definitely worked with as he was the leading hand in PD. And I was working in PD when the XR model was released around late 1966/67. This photo also shows Arthur Kidd so I must have known him.
The second photo shows a guy by the name of Sid Hunt, who I think was the Garage Foreman at Homebush assembly and was responsible for the maintaince of the truck fleet as well as preparing the press test vehicles. I went to the plant in 1967 and was assigned to the press test vehicles and as such was one of the first to drive the XR GT ( Bronze Bomb).
This was an exciting time as Ford were the first to offer a V8 option and of course it was the 289 Windsor.
As for the other Hastings Deering people I would not know them as Deering’s were the largest dealer in Sydney at that time with branches in William St. Sydney, Bridge Rd, Camperdown Hume Hwy Yagoona, Blaxland Rd. Ryde , Pacific Hwy Waitara and of course Parramatta Rd. Lidcombe. They were the RJV of their day. Lidcombe alone employed 150 apprentices of all engineering trades.
Welder, machinists engine fitters, mechanics, earthmoving fitters as well as truck assemblers. They had the franchise for English AEC trucks and buses as well as building the bodies for these vehicles.
They also designed and built tow motors for Qantas as well as staircases to the aircraft.
The only function that could not be done at Lidcombe was Camshaft profiling.
The photos were taken at the Qantas museum at Longreach in 2009 the tow motors are stuffed but you can still see the outline. These were powered by 144 cid Falcon engine hooked up to the Fordomatic 2 speed transmission. These were capable of towing a 707 for short distance which Qantas found after numerous transmission failures. They were only ever meant for towing luggage trailers.
The staircases used Falcon engines early but switched to small diesels later. We made all of the rams and sheet metal at Lidcombe. I was not involved with staircases but was involved with the transmission failures as Laurie Evans and myself worked in the transmission room.

Qantas Truck.JPG

[The Yeti]

That’s freaken awesome “GT”

I don’t know anything about these days as I wasn’t born for a few more years,

Dad (Arthur) kept in touch with Chris Greenwood from Hunt Brothers until dad died,Chris moved south and was service manager of King Horn Motors Nowra for a time, but he got him self a truck and did that, I haven’t spoken with Chris since dads funeral so I don’t know what he’s up to now, I should drop in for a coffee as he lives about half an hour from our weekender

Dad also built a raced a Zepher for a period with some guy “L.Phillips” (mouse) think they worked together for a bit but mouse went north in the early 70’s and they lost touch

[4stanger]

Originally Posted by The Yeti

Do it

Been a while since I have had the chance, but helping Mum move some stuff for her today and came across this;

[FTE217]

very cool.

[The Yeti]

Originally Posted by 4stanger

Been a while since I have had the chance, but helping Mum move some stuff for her today and came across this;

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That’s so cool, thanks for posting it up

I love all this kind of old stuff

[styxs]

Beautiful.

[FERG_51]

As a technician with Ford since 1979 I find this stuff awesome, a great part of history. Thanks for posting.

[Mechan1k]

Need to set all of these up in frames to hang up.
Not to hide away.

Awesome to see it all in pretty good quality as well.

[GCRXR6]

Originally Posted by 4stanger

Been a while since I have had the chance, but helping Mum move some stuff for her today and came across this;

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Thanks for sharing. Mr Arnold had a reputation for being a master at wheel alignment.

[4stanger]

Originally Posted by GCRXR6

Thanks for sharing. Mr Arnold had a reputation for being a master at wheel alignment.

Yes he did locally, back in the day.
"Tim" did a lot of back yard work on Saturday mornings at home in a small shed, with a purpose built pit, wheel align equipment (some home made), a home made press, did lots of front end/ steering work, great memories for me as a car crazy kid to see all these different cars he worked on and get to ride with him in cars like a 66 mustang (for example), he would take for a test drive around the block after the wheel alignment.