John Haynes of Haynes Manual Fame Dies

[aussiblue]

https://haynes.com/en-au/john-harold...s-obe-obituary

John Haynes, the entrepreneur and creator of the Haynes Manual, founder of the Haynes Publishing Group PLC and the Haynes International Motor Museum passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on the evening of Friday 8th February, aged 80, after a short illness. John was a kind, generous, loving and devoted husband, brother, father and grandfather, who will be missed enormously.

[aussiblue]

Also https://www.theregister.co.uk/2019/02/13/john_haynes/

Granddaddy of the DIY repair generation John Haynes has loosened his last nut

[DJR-351]

If your really keen you can probably pick up a copy of his very first 'manual' that he wrote while still at boarding school, very smart young lad.....

At the age of 12 he moved to the UK with his brother David, to attend boarding school at Sutton Valence School in Kent. It was at school that John’s flair for art and his entrepreneurial spirit developed and flourished. He persuaded his House Master to allow him to miss rugby and instead spend his time converting an Austin 7 into a lightweight sporty Austin 7 ‘Special’. He eventually sold the car, making a reasonable profit, and owing to the immense interest it received (over 150 replies to the advert) he decided to produce a booklet showing other enthusiasts how he'd made it. He published a booklet entitled “Building A ‘750’ Special’; the first print run of 250 copies sold out in 10 days.

[asagaai]

I remember getting a Haynes manual for my first car, a Ford Cortina Mark 11 GT, it was very thumbed and oiled marked after some 5 years of ownership

Used it for head replacement, engine pull out, gearbox removals, multiple diff removals and replacements, windscreen removal/replacement, etc etc

Police in those days did not need to fingerprint you- just find your Haynes for a full set of oiled finger prints ….....

Vaile John Haynes

[aussiblue]

I wonder if our own Australian Scientific Publications that became Gregory's before being taken over by Haynes has an earlier history. I have one of their manuals for a Standard Vangard that was published in 1950.

[aussiblue]

The US based Chiltons, also taken over by Haynes goes back to 1896. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chilton_Company I suspect Australian Scientific Publications car services manuals only started in 1950 although the published manuals for earlier cars. e.g. https://www.stuff4blokes.com.au/1932...op-manual.html

[GASWAGON]

RIP John.

Thanks for all your great and detailed help through all my years DIYing as much as possible on all my past 4.0 Fords.

[Junkyard-Dog]

I remember my first Haynes manual. Plenty of long nights spent looking at the oil marked pages under a feeble fluorescent work light trying to figure out how to put my falcon back together...

Good times, I wouldn't trade them for the world.

[Dr Terry]

Originally Posted by aussiblue

The US based Chiltons, also taken over by Haynes goes back to 1896. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chilton_Company I suspect Australian Scientific Publications car services manuals only started in 1950 although the published manuals for earlier cars. e.g. https://www.stuff4blokes.com.au/1932...op-manual.html

While I admire John Haynes as an entrepreneur, his was hardly the "Grandfather of DIY workshop manuals".

It appears that our own Scientific Publications (which became Gregorys) & Rellim, along with Chilton & Clymers from the USA all pre-date his 1965 Austin-Healey Sprite manual.

He was arguably a better businessman though, his company now owns all of these publishers.

Dr Terry

[outback_ute]

The Haynes Museum in south-west England is well worth a visit if you are over there. It has a few of Mr Haynes' personal cars including a gigantic 1979 American Ford wagon that must have been a challenge to drive and park over there.