Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Miscellany

I agree Frank.
Unless there is a definite NEED to deliver by a fixed date then why pay for it? Especially if the contracted delivery date is not met, in which case refunds should be made from printer/ delivery firm.
The process of generating, printing, delivery etc has key stages with, no doubt, deadline dates.
Has this process been looked at re suitability and costs?
What is the aim for delivery date and , working back, does the process provide the ability to do this?
This is usually done by good companies as an ongoing process management and improvement process.
Considering the large proportion of MSCC expenditure on Miscellany then this should be high, if not top, of the management scrutiny.

Yes thats very funny - they should maybe take that off and put it on the Web site!

I actually sad .... SAT (!) down and read the magazine today....and enjoyed it. Am I turning? It'll be pipe and slippers next! Then I discovered Nero in it that's a first.

The rear cover advert for the 80th Anniversary 4/4 looks nicely retro. But 80 years to get the hang of making bonnets?

Is the 'sad down to read ...' Freudian ?

Nope.....god a cold

That back cover car doesn't have wire wheels.

I've been in bed with Gout for a couple of days and have had some quiet time to my self so enjoyed reading Miscellany this month.Where did the name come from buy the way? It makes no sense to me as a relatively newby.
I also had time to read the new How a Morgan is made book ,that was better than expected too .

From the MSCC website - how appropriate!


The Magazine

An intrinsic part of the club has been its magazine. The first magazine appeared in November 1951. ‘Motoring and Morgans’ consisted of seventeen pages of hand typed A4 stapled together with a blue cover. It contained the names of the club officers and a full membership list, reports on the club's first events, notification of RAC recognition, details of future events, technical articles and so on. Obviously the only ads were private ones like “1938 4/4 4 seater, new hood, tonneau, and tyres. Complete re-spray engine and transmission overhaul, the price £395”.

The July 1952 edition mentioned that two of the clubs events had to be cancelled that year due to outbreaks of Foot and Mouth disease. The club had recruited three members from the USA and were considering a branch over there.

A smaller A5 magazine appeared in 1955. ‘Monthly Miscellany’ was the heading on the first page and gave a clue to the origins of the name of our present day magazine. Details of the AGM and dinner were reported along with a driving test meeting at Honeybourne Airfield on 20th of March. It also contains a subscription renewal form, 30 shillings (£1.50p) in those days a stamped, 2.1/2d (1p) addressed envelope was included.

In 1960 the magazine was called ‘Miscellany’ and back to A4 size reporting on various events including reporting that Lynden Simms and Roger Jones had finished in 125 place in the Monte Carlo Rally driving a Plus Four Coupe. They had made third fastest time on the special tests afterwards, beaten only by two Porsches.

By February 1966 the flat-rad on the cover was replaced with a racing cowled rad, the same as used on the club letterhead. The editorial reports on the introduction of the 70 mph speed limit for a trial period of four months saying that trial periods have a habit of becoming permanent (how true).

May 1968 and the magazine is now carrying commercial advertisements, 3 full page and 2 half page. There is much discussion on changing the Club's name. An article on the spares problems for Series Is by Ralph Cross and another on the racing circuits around the country by Robin Brown. The August issue of that year was largely devoted to the introduction of the Plus Eight at a cost of £1,477-18s-4d.

Spring 1970 and the magazine has shrunk again to A5 size with a white cover sporting the Morgan Wing. This issue contains the results of the referendum on the name change.

The following year sees the new name MSCC on the cover and photographs. Until March 1975 the magazines were published sometimes quarterly, sometimes bi-monthly. These editions were supported by a stencilled monthly newsletter. From March 1975 it was decided to end these newsletters and to publish ‘Miscellany’ every month and this has been the case ever since. By 1996 the magazine was becoming very thick so it was decided to go up to A4. Landers did have produced for their penultimate edition, March 1997, a colour photograph of Chris Rowe's +4 4 seater on the front cover, as a ‘thank you’ to him on his retirement as editor. May 1997 saw a change of printers to Clarkeprint and regular colour covers and several spot colour and full colour pages. In December 2001 the first 56 page full colour edition was produced. Tighter control of the cost of the printing and advertising rates plus a much more hands on approach by ‘the editorial team’ has given us a much higher quality product at a lower cost.

What of Miscellany today, there are now regularly 48 full colour pages (with the occasional 56 page issue), around 16 of these are advertisements. Things have come a long way since ‘Motoring and Morgans’ of 50 years ago.

The Club has also come a long way in its first half century. The membership has grown from 20 to over 4,500 worldwide. What and where will the Morgan Sports Car Club be in 2051?

I thoroughly enjoyed Miscellany this month, private for sale ads remain very disappointing though.

Note for Dave: I am sad to say I still have every copy of miscellany since joining the club in 1981. Must dig them out of the loft some time.