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Posted by: 02loftsmoor Feb 23 2013, 01:35 PM

does any have the prints for Mark's sheet metal repair kits,, I could check with a compay that water jets parts

Posted by: 396 Feb 23 2013, 04:35 PM

Why not reach out for his estate for permission first....

Posted by: Joe Sharp Feb 23 2013, 04:51 PM

Thank you....

Posted by: 02loftsmoor Feb 23 2013, 05:20 PM

never met the man or have had any dealings, any help on contacting his estate would be helpful.. I would like to keep the Engman product name going in Marks honor.

Posted by: 396 Feb 23 2013, 08:52 PM

I have no "skin" on this other than by principal. If one simply copies Engman's product as if it was their own via R&D and with out his estate's ok.. I'm on that will not purchase your product. To me, it's like ripping him / his family off.

Posted by: Vacca Rabite Feb 23 2013, 08:53 PM

On the other hand. If the estate is willing to let you continue on with is work, it would be a boon to the community.
His obit was posted here last December. Here is the link to it:
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/louisville/obituary.aspx?pid=160670649#fbLoggedOut

I'd imagine that the estate would want you to buy the rights to continue making his parts. But you never know until you ask.

Zach

Posted by: 02loftsmoor Feb 23 2013, 09:06 PM

As a bussiness man I know how things work, I cannot believe you I would even think of RIPPING off someones name, maybe you would, If I was going to RIPP off someone do think I would post for all to see.

Posted by: 02loftsmoor Feb 23 2013, 09:08 PM

Place to start. I really hate contacting someone after a passing of a young soul.

Posted by: swood Feb 23 2013, 09:19 PM

Oh man, first i heard of this. I've been off the grid for quite sometime...

Posted by: ConeDodger Feb 23 2013, 09:31 PM

It's too soon... Leave her alone.

Posted by: cary Feb 23 2013, 10:08 PM

I'm with Rob.
Give them some time.

I too believe that some one should continue on.
I'm thinking pay something for the machine drawings.
Then pay them something for each part sold.
Kind of like a royalty.

My .02c for tonight.

Posted by: hot_shoe914 Feb 23 2013, 10:13 PM

I know you guys think it is to soon and normally I would agree. However, I have seen many an opportunity missed because some decent person was waiting, giving the family time to grieve, only to have somebody else swoop in and grab the opportunity. It is a very touchy area but sometimes you just have to make that move.


Shoe

Posted by: Sneezy Feb 23 2013, 10:27 PM

I'm thinking that her grief is more important than petty toy car parts.

Posted by: Dr Evil Feb 23 2013, 10:31 PM

It may be the right time if Mark's death has left them in financial need.

Posted by: BritCarJim Feb 23 2013, 10:42 PM

i hate to say this in a hobbiest community...i have some professional experience in this area...people grieve differently and at different rates. some people are ready to talk about car parts in 2 weeks...other folks need a year. i would support you asking her...very tactfully and with a willingness to back off if she needs you to do so. good luck.

jim

Posted by: rsrguy3 Feb 23 2013, 10:46 PM

Why not just design your own? I don't see the issue here, you don't have to copy his. Just do your own thing. If you are set on this as a charitable thing THAT is another issue all together. Was he actually doing the cutting of the pieces, or out sourcing it? If he was out sourcing, than someone could step up and manage that process and they could take the royalty and leave the bulk of the proceeds to the estate, I think that is the better option. If he was doing the work himself then someone local could take it on as a side job for wages, again leaving the proceeds to the family.

Posted by: cary Feb 23 2013, 10:52 PM

Both sides of the argument have merit. I'll back track a little

Having never met the family I'd want to go thru a friend.
You right coast guys probably have a better handle on that.

Shoe's right. Many a a time. You snooze you loose.

I think if the first contact is delicate. You've got nothing to loose.
Just keep in mind that he died 20-30 years ahead of schedule.

Posted by: BritCarJim Feb 23 2013, 10:55 PM

crap dude. i can't help it: i never met the guy or had a direct (albeit electronic) conversation with him, but i've read his stuff here when doing research, anybody know what happened? i agree that he went early but the obit didn't read like a long illness like cancer or something.

Posted by: Vacca Rabite Feb 23 2013, 10:59 PM

I hate to sound like I don't care, because I do. That said. It's cleaner for both parties to buy the rights outright then set up some sort of pay back / royalty scheme. Too many ways for it to go bad over time.

And you buy the rights because Mark engineered some great IP. His work was well thought out and just worked. Starting from scratch means you need 5 years development before you have a full product line that is solid, and someone will come and just say "you stole Marks stuff" wether you did or did not.

Posted by: 02loftsmoor Feb 23 2013, 11:06 PM

I agree

Posted by: morph Feb 23 2013, 11:16 PM

Been gone awile... quite shocked to hear about this from this thread.
Make your own parts.dont copy peoples stuff.i had people calling me about a family members stuff after they died and it was annoying.
i asked evil back in the day if i could do dashes because his source was no more. it was just the polite thing to do.
james
www.914ap.com

Posted by: ruby914 Feb 23 2013, 11:49 PM

Not thinking so much of the loss of his fine products. I really feel a friend or at least someone in the area should check on the family.
There may be a garage / shop full of tools, jigs, fixtures and material that needs to be cleared out. This could be a big problem for the family.
He had a business that, I am sure, could have been sold on an open market.

Maybe someone close, could tell the family what his work meant to the 914 community.
Let them know, we would like to keep his work alive.
Report back here and tell us where everything stands.

Posted by: Dasnowman Feb 23 2013, 11:52 PM

You could always say Mark left a legacy I want to continue if that's alright with you, then go from their. Some people would want this done for no financial benefit or part of the proceeds going to charity or maybe he has kids that need money for education but either way a friend of the family or his friend would be best suited to to talk to the family or wife. Personally I wouldn't want some person unknown to bother me or my family during this time, how ever long it might be.

Posted by: 02loftsmoor Feb 24 2013, 12:30 PM

that is my intent, and put his name on the kit/parts as tribute to his work, I don't have time to redevelop parts and I don't want to.

Posted by: Dr Evil Feb 24 2013, 04:59 PM

Mark has as Son, who's name I can not recall, that was at Hershey at least once. He may be interested in taking over. Again, contact is needed to suss this out. If you wont help, no biggie and we move on. If it can help, great.

Posted by: 02loftsmoor Feb 24 2013, 05:22 PM

I'll see what I can do,, Delicatley as possible..

Posted by: jimkelly Feb 24 2013, 06:05 PM

for those that can't wait for this to get sorted out, maddog and jwest have been offering a different version of some items.

inner long kit
http://www.maddogsmotorsports.com/Products.php

fuse box
http://www.jwesteng.com/porsche/914/fuse.htm

jim

Posted by: Spoke Feb 24 2013, 08:31 PM

That Maddog Long kit looks just like Mark's.