84 Year Old Expert, right around the corner.

[sandpiper]

While surfing the Crosman site I did a search for "Authorized Service Centers". To my surprise there was a center 10 miles from my house in Media, Pa. I stopped in to check it out and get a few parts for my 357 project. I found the owner (John / 84 years old) quite interesting. In fact, I spent two hours talking with him. He was a Crosman authorized repairman since the fourties and has a wealth of knowledge. He showed me just about every gun in the shop and he had a lot from new to old. Two hours later he found the screw, spring and seal I needed after searching through a huge box of envelopes. When I asked him what I owed him, he looked me square in the eye and said "that'll be fifty an hour".  After an awkward pause he smiled and said "just a couple bucks". 

I got my parts, didn't pay outrageous shipping and made a new friend. There are still good guys in the business.

[quickster47 †]

Sounds like you have come across a local gold mine.  Good find.   

Carl

[joe k]

thats cool !!
joe

[arkmaker †]

I hope you realize just how lucky you are!!!! Oh, to have a guy like that down the street!! Man! Some guys have all the luck!

I got stuck with good looks and ......
     

[sandpiper]

Yup, when I first walked in, it was very small but packed with air guns of all kinds. My first thought was Wow!

He was a bit hesitant to open up at first but later told me he often feels used by people who come in for information and leave without even saying thank you. I'm sure he sensed my gratitude for allowing me to ask him stuff.

He was into automotive electrical part sales along with air guns. It was a dual store and he eventually sold the auto parts biz to NAPA. Car parts and air guns in one store, every mans favorite place 

[Brutuz]

Cool 

[Crosshairs]

I love talking to old people they have such cool stories and a air gunner to boot very cool. You must have felt like a kid in a candy store.
                                         Mike 

[KevinP]

  Nice day you had ....

[sandpiper]

Nice day you had ....

Great day and great visit BUT, he did show me some he had for sale that I might just have to have 

600
150
144? rifle

He also had a few that people dropped off for repairs and they never came back. One was a 112. Such a good guy that he'll just keep them for years and years just in case they come back.

[KevinP]

Makes me want to come down for a visit ..... old school is good school ... not a lot
of that these days !!!!

[sandpiper]

Makes me want to come down for a visit ..... old school is good school ... not a lot
of that these days !!!!

And I forgot to mention boxes and boxes of parts. Not well organized but the boxes and envelopes were marked and there's alot of em.

[1377x]

i have one of those shops close to me too
if you look in your crosman paper work hes in there in my guns from the 70's paperwork he's in there and cheap prices for the parts too
keep him close you never know what kind of opportunities you will get by befriending him

[KevinP]

And I forgot to mention boxes and boxes of parts. Not well organized but the boxes and envelopes were marked and there's alot of em.

And I am sure he knows whats in each one .....

[1377x]

Great day and great visit BUT, he did show me some he had for sale that I might just have to have 

600
150
144? rifle

He also had a few that people dropped off for repairs and they never came back. One was a 112. Such a good guy that he'll just keep them for years and years just in case they come back.

are you sure your not in mn ?
it must happen at all the repair stations

[breakfastchef]

Cool story, sandpiper. I have had conversations on the phone recently with Tim at Mac1 and Ron at Bryan and Associates. Guy that know their stuff are fascinating. I always learn something everytime I make a phone call with an airgunsmith.