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MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGA - Car Jack Databases - Including MGA

Some 20 years ago I researched what jack I needed for my MGA. In those days the internet was in its infancy and at the time I was not even aware of the relevant data on Barney's site. Anyway, I went on to suffer enormous banter from you guys, baiting me to gather all the data together into a standalone database.

Well, today I can announce that I have just recorded the 1000th British classic car jack in 30 databases. Some 400+ cars to date have also been cross referenced to their original issue jacks.

http://www.classic-british-car-jacks.uk/

Probably the main reason I have so little time to work on and run my MGA! 30 odd emails a day plus the data entry etc. I spend about 15 hours a week on it.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Wow, well done, who'd have thought it when you started.

I was worried I might have given you non-original info and camera photo quality was a lot less then (tho' I still use the same old digital camera now).
Nigel Atkins

Steve, you've done a great job, both in your research and setting up the site. I can't tell you how many times I've visited the site and have come away impressed with the information you've gathered; its really a great accomplishment.
Nick Kopernik

Thank you Steve for all the info and all the effort you have put into the database.
Trouble is now I can't pass any car-boot-sale, jumble sale or parts swap site without spending hours hoping for a valuable 'find'!
Barry.
Barry Gannon

Barry

Yes. Much the same. One thing the databases has done is bring all jack values onto one site. Over the years I have noticed 'runs' on specific jacks based on my list of selling prices. This then sends prices spiralling. The E-Type, Healey, Aston Martin and MGA jacks are typical ones. I even noticed the LJ225 jacks being bought up in masses, then being converted to 3 screws for the E-Type. A couple of engineering workshops even did production runs on the 3 tier screws. So a typical LJ225 that was selling originally for £30 ($40US) all of a sudden jumped to about £600 ($780); even £1300 ($1700) in a couple of instances.

My biggest problem is second hand information. People find a car jack in their newly acquired classic and assume it is the original equipment. Others read my entries where I say such and such a jack may have been supplied with car X. They conveniently leave out the 'may have' from their adverts and fiction suddenly becomes fact. Bit like the chemical weapons in Iraq all those years ago.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Steve
Great work. Just to add to your 30 messages per day(!) fwiw these three are my collection - a Lake and Elliot two stage screw jack with bar and dowel handle (£10 Beaulieu Autojumble about ten years ago), a King Dick two stage screw jack minus all bar and handle (£30 recently including courier from a French Twin Cam owner) and a Lake and Elliot small hydraulic jack with second stage screw (inherited from Father so no idea of value). All three in regular use but have to admit to more often using a cheap small scissor screw jack with a wooden block which locates it into the underside of the front spring pan under my Twin Cam!
Just a thought, perhaps I should have emailed you privately? Too late, here goes!
Bruce.
Bruce Mayo

Bruce

That was a good purchase with the MGA King Dick jack. They normally go for about £100. The L&E S411 screw jack is very common but I cannot place the L&E hydraulic jack. Could you let me know its number that will be cast on it?

Steve
Steve Gyles

Steve
There you are. This picture is from the other sides of the jacks. Numbers visible on the hydraulic jack.
Bruce.


Bruce Mayo

Thanks Bruce. Looks like S945. Already have that one. For a moment I thought it might be a new model for me. However, I don't have the handle so may I use and crop the photo? Credit to you if you wish (copyright). Could you just check its length for me? No rush.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Steve, have you made provision for your site to carry on if you get hit by the proverbial bus? I believe the MGAguru has done so for his invaluable website.
Cheers
Mike
Mike Ellsmore

A good call Mike. No I have not yet done so yet. I do have a fellow enthusiast who provides me with so much input and is also far more knowledgeable than I on company history and patents (Mike Moody, alias MenMoody). Unfortunately he is older than me!

Happy to take ideas. I keep complete and updated copies of the site on my PC and backup disc. The whole lot can be simply uploaded to any server. Keeping it up to date with current values and new finds is, however, the time consuming bit. I guess it could always be just frozen and used as a historic reference.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Might be worth talking to Barney, i think he is planning a way to keep it going with updates. Would be a pity if these great sites just froze with the makers’ demise!
Mike
Mike Ellsmore

Steve FYI - the old King Dick hydraulic Jack handle is 46cm long. Use whatever photos you like.
Bruce.
Bruce Mayo

Bruce

The hydraulic jack is L&E, not KD. It's the handle on the right of the photo I'm interested in.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Apologies Steve. Correct, Lake & Elliot hydraulic Jack and the numbering is S945 (30 cwt). The handle on the right for it is 46cm long.
Bruce.
Bruce Mayo

Hi Steve
would it cause you any extra work or expense to put some kind of link to the information that was previously available on your mgaroadster website onto your Jack database?

I really miss being able to read about your MGA and especially, being able to look again at some of the modifications that you had made to your car?

What prompts me ask is that I was going to send someone to your mgaroadster website to show him your quick release front grille mod, then I realised that the link was no longer working.

I understand that this may not be a practical option for you, but I thought it was worth asking, especially if it means that we don't lose all that great information.

Cheers
Colyn

PS
I have actually managed a couple of runs out in the MGA in the sunshine over the last day or so, I am still having an enormous amount of fun driving it with the fast 1950cc engine and the electric power steering.
Colyn Firth

Colyn

I guess I could jury rig it. Perhaps add a link on the 'Contact Me' page and co host it within the jack site. I took it down as a standalone site as I did not have enough time to work on it; plus of course, the cost of 2 sites. I do not now own the domain name but that will not matter. I have put Google adds on the jack site just to help pay for the hosting and domain name.

Leave it with me. Time for tea and a chocolate éclair.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Colyn

I left the PC uploading while I had my eclair. Have a look on the 'About Me' page via the 'Contact Me' button. The MGA Roadster site now runs within the jack website and is the only way it can be accessed.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Thanks for that Steve, much appreciated.

I kind of wish I could have FaceTimed you to ask about this, if only to see what you look like with chocolate eclair smeared all over your face :^)

Colyn
Colyn Firth

Bruce

Uploaded your handle: http://www.classic-british-car-jacks.uk/Lake_&_Elliot_Jacks_3.htm#Lake_&_Elliot_S945_&_945A

many thanks for the info.

Colyn. Delicious.

Cheers. Steve
Steve Gyles

Steve,

A wonderful outcome from a huge effort. Congratulations on the 1000 milestone and appreciation for a valuable addition to our knowledge base for all of these lovely cars.

Regards

Roger
R Taylor

Hi Steve, a friend of mine was clearing out his dad's garage, and came across these. Do you know what they are? Are they of any use to anyone?





D J Hill

DJ

I am not familiar with the hydraulic jack. Looks a bit modern for my databases. First question would be is it British?

The second jack is the Shelley LJ210. The consensus from owners is that it is one of the jacks that was used in early series LandRovers. I have been advised that in those days LandRover used whatever jack was available in suitable quantities from the suppliers. There is an ever growing list of applicable jacks of which the LJ210 is but one. It may have been used with other vehicles but I have to rely on feedback from owners for this detail as the Shelley production records all went into the skip when they were taken over by Tangye in the late 60s.

http://www.classic-british-car-jacks.uk/shelley_jacks_3.htm#Shelley_LJ210

Steve

Steve Gyles

Very many thanks, Steve
D J Hill

This thread was discussed between 11/04/2021 and 24/05/2021

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