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MG TD TF 1500 - Employees at Abington ??

When restoring the 72 MGB, I found the initials PJ behind the left tail light which looked like it was done with a finger in wet paint. I was told that the one who painted the car would sometimes sign the car with his initials in the wet paint. I've always been curious if it would be possible to trace the painter with the initials PJ. Needless to say those initials caught my immediate attention. Are there any employee records left? PJ
Paul sr

Hi Paul - I don't have any information on your question, but just want to mention that the factory was located in "Abingdon" rather than Abington.

Good luck in researching your question.

Best regards,

Jeff
Jeff Delk

Try the British Heritage Motor Trust

http://www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk/
Chris Couper

And the bodies were delivered fully painted to the factory, so no Abingdon painter was near it.

It is nice to find a greeting from the past in a car, though.

Attached is a picture of me putting on my best photo-smile in Abingdon around the time your car was built.

Willem van der Veer

Willem,

Priceless!
Dave Braun

Wow ...how wild would that be if that was your car!
Willem,
Thanks for making me feel old there young fella. LOL
Great pic ...I would have been about that age when the TF was built.

Curious,
The T types were painted at Abingdon ...were they not?
(If not somebody really pulled my leg about something I was told years ago.)
David Sheward

...an interesting post and questions... I thought Abingdon was just assembly, however, they did have their 'rectification' dep't...and obiviously the paint would have to match...more questions....
..David...just how hard did he pull that leg....???
gblawson(gordon- TD27667)

No initials Paul; but I did find these finger prints, underneath the sheet-metal, on the henge pillar, drivers side,of the original wood I replaced on my TD.
Regards
Hiram

Hiram Kelley

The T type bodies (TD & TF) were painted at the bodyworks, not Abingdon.

Matthew.

M Magilton

Paul

If you take Chris's advice and contact the British Heritage Motor Trust - I live just down the road from the centre. If you need help such as perhaps posting something to you etc...feel free to get in contact with me. My email is raycoyte at gmail.com

Can you imagine what would happen if an employee of a modern car factory did that today (assuming they could even enter the computer climate controlled robotic spray facility)

In the 1970's when your MGB was built Britain was slap bang in the middle of a union vs. management "war". I wont get into politics on this forum but it was a troubled time for British industry and strikes by car workers were common

Your PJ could be the initials of the paint sprayer - or a reminder to him what code paint to spray the other wing when he came back on shift the next day - or a rude coded message to his boss - or a quality control symbol - or even that he was a fan of PJ Proby!

I rather suspect if "PJ" was a frustrated artist who liked to sign his work - a lot of MGB's would have his signatures in the same place. Maybe a question for your MGB forum.

Good luck

Ray
R Coyte

I just sent an inquiry to the heritage museum. Sorry about the misspelling of Abingdon. Don't know why I did that. PJ
Paul sr

My TF had initials in chalk inside both doors, presumably done by an inspector. I also found a "final Inspection" slip- presumably from the rectification department indicating work done to the body and paintwork and initialed by various inspectors or workers with dates of Nov 25-26-27 1953 - so I guess it spent a few days in the rectification department!
JB

J K Barter

This thread was discussed between 01/09/2013 and 02/09/2013

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