ausmini
https://www.ausmini.com/forums/

The man behind the Aussie Mini wind up window
https://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=90584		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  phillb [ Sun Sep 20, 2015 9:32 pm ]
Post subject:  The man behind the Aussie Mini wind up window
Meet Chris Rogers, who was a good friend of my father in the Body Hardware section of Engineering at BMC Zetland and is the man responsible for the design of the very unique and clever windup window doors in the Australian Mini. As well being the 50th anniversary of the Mini Deluxe and Cooper S, 2015 also marks the introduction of the Australian designed wind up window doors for the Mini.

I took this quick pic of Chris with his creation on Saturday at the annual BMC/Leyland Heritage reunion.
Attachment:
DSC_0223.jpg

I just thought it was worth recognising his work and the work of other engineers at BMC and to show one of the faces behind the creation of our favourite car.

If you have ever cursed and sworn while trying to work on Mini wind up window doors then I'm afraid Chris the the one to blame!

His personal comment... “..there ain’t much room in there” :lol:

An interesting item Chris had kept with him from his days at BMC is this perpetual Factory trophy "For Pride in Performance”. Chris and his team in the Engineering section had actually won an award in March 1965 for their work on the wind up window design.
Attachment:
IMG_3888.jpg

Attachment:
IMG_3893.jpg
Author:  Timbo [ Mon Sep 21, 2015 10:03 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The man behind the Aussie Mini wind up window
Thanks for posting this, its really good to recognise and remember the important role these 'old guys' played, and that shield is a great piece of memorabilia.

Tim
Author:  9YaTaH [ Mon Sep 21, 2015 10:16 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The man behind the Aussie Mini wind up window
Great story...get Chris to swab the shields with a mild solution of hot water and baking soda! (quick!) then dry quickly in sun...or with a hair dryer...or
Author:  phillb [ Mon Sep 21, 2015 11:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The man behind the Aussie Mini wind up window
9YaTaH wrote:
Great story...get Chris to swab the shields with a mild solution of hot water and baking soda! (quick!) then dry quickly in sun...or with a hair dryer...or


Yes, there was discussion about getting it properly cleaned.
Author:  phillb [ Mon Sep 21, 2015 11:27 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The man behind the Aussie Mini wind up window
Timbo wrote:
Thanks for posting this, its really good to recognise and remember the important role these 'old guys' played, and that shield is a great piece of memorabilia.

Tim


Thanks Tim,

On a side note, I can see you have a Morris J van. I was chatting to Chris about cars he had owned in the past and he was saying how many years ago he had a Morris J Van set up as a family camper. :D
Author:  TheMiniMan [ Mon Sep 21, 2015 12:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The man behind the Aussie Mini wind up window
Is there a "Like" button around here somewhere, :-)
cheers guys, great stuff
Author:  Flute [ Mon Sep 21, 2015 12:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The man behind the Aussie Mini wind up window
Great, thanks for sharing, that is a fantastic photo.
Author:  drjbeam [ Mon Sep 21, 2015 1:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The man behind the Aussie Mini wind up window
Now we can get the bmc Leyland latest book

I was talking to the guys at the all British day about it and they said after they launched it at that event
Author:  timmy201 [ Mon Sep 21, 2015 1:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The man behind the Aussie Mini wind up window
drjbeam wrote:
Now we can get the bmc Leyland latest book

I was talking to the guys at the all British day about it and they said after they launched it at that event

On their website:
http://www.bmclaheritage.org.au/Shop.html

Did you buy a copy Phill?
Author:  drjbeam [ Mon Sep 21, 2015 1:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The man behind the Aussie Mini wind up window
Them blue and white cars behind him look like wide body clubmans same sort of front grill just forget the name of the car
Author:  Timbo [ Mon Sep 21, 2015 1:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The man behind the Aussie Mini wind up window
phillb wrote:
Timbo wrote:
...On a side note, I can see you have a Morris J van. I was chatting to Chris about cars he had owned in the past and he was saying how many years ago he had a Morris J Van set up as a family camper. :D


He's clearly a man of great taste too! :D

I'd guess he didn't have a very big family or have to travel very far to camp though :lol:

Tim
Author:  winabbey [ Mon Sep 21, 2015 2:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The man behind the Aussie Mini wind up window
Always great to have a little of the human touch with things that were made on a production line. A great story, Phill.

There's a photo of the full-sized engineering drawing for the door on page 23 of the current issue of The BMC Experience magazine.

Also, on the Ausmini Facebook page are some photos of a modification that was done to the Mini doors to fix a design issue. A piece of wood is installed at a strategic point. Phill - I wonder if Chris Rogers knows about this modification? Are you still in contact with him?

See here - https://www.facebook.com/groups/250368238352982/
Author:  timmy201 [ Mon Sep 21, 2015 2:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The man behind the Aussie Mini wind up window
drjbeam wrote:
Them blue and white cars behind him look like wide body clubmans same sort of front grill just forget the name of the car

A Maxi I think
Author:  Firefirey [ Mon Sep 21, 2015 3:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The man behind the Aussie Mini wind up window
Hi Phil
Great Mini chat story and it is so good to see these people who can still pass on all those details from the build days at BMC Australia.
Did you get any information on the door seals and pinch weld from the gentleman who was behind the wind up window?
Nice Work
Regards.
Author:  drjbeam [ Mon Sep 21, 2015 3:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The man behind the Aussie Mini wind up window
timmy201 wrote:
drjbeam wrote:
Them blue and white cars behind him look like wide body clubmans same sort of front grill just forget the name of the car

A Maxi I think


That's them the maxi when I first seen them I thought the front looked like a wide clubman with the grill and blinkers and parkers under the bumper bar looks same as a mini
Page 1 of 2 All times are UTC + 10 hours
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
http://www.phpbb.com/