Quality Experience

[Cofe]

At a power plant that needed a 1932 turbine brought back into working order using computer controls. A retired GE turbine man was asked to assist in getting it going. He spent 2 months on site getting it going, and this is what his bill to the company looked like.

Wire and Fasteners $125.00
Knowing how to run the wire and what to connect it to $50,000.00

 

[JB]

Re: Quality Experience

Better run that by Snopes. I think it is bogus.

It must be based on the famous story about Edison repairing a failed generator at Ford's River Rouge powerplant.

The bill was a fews cents for solder, etc. and many thousands for knowing what to solder.

Remember that Edison and Ford were good friends. Understand that it was a joke between friends.

 

[Cofe]

Re: Quality Experience

Hi JB, I never heard the Edison story before, But this did happen at a power plant I worked at. The retired GE man might have heard the story and copied it in his own version. The GE man I worked with had quite a "colorful" disposition. My ribs hurt alot from laughing at his stories.

 

[bassman284]

Re: Quality Experience

Reminds me of an old story that used to run around about furnace repair.

Homeowner's furnace quits running. Calls furnace repairman (HVAC hadn't been invented yet) who looks at the furnace for a couple of minutes, then whacks it with a hammer. Furnace starts running.

Homeowner gets a bill for $50 (told ya this was old). Calls the furnace repairman and says he'd like an itemized bill.

F.R. sends the following:

Whack furnace with hammer - $0.25
Knowing where to whack - $49.75.

 

[windsors03cobra]

Re: Quality Experience

Ford, Edison and The Rouge. They sure don't build em like they use to........

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Quality Experience

Bit like the Red Adair story?/legend?/myth?

Supposedly, he and his team arrived at a fire in some small mid-east Emirate or wherever....the stars and planets all aligned and they were able to extinguish the blaze in record time ~ sometimes ya get lucky.
As they were packing up to leave, the Emir's business agent appeared and questioned the size of the bill.
Red was said to have told him "Tell you what son, you send me a cheque for whatever YOU think I'm worth, but don't EVER call me again.

A wire transfer for the full amount arrived at their Texas bank the next morning!