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    Got an e-mail telling me to go out of business!

    Tim McElwain
    Tim McElwain Member Posts: 4,655
    in THE MAIN WALL

    The gentleman stated that what I teach is no longer needed as gas and oil is a thing of the past. He went on to state that 83 year old men like me should know when it is time to quit as you are out of touch with what is happening to day. He also stated that all the stuff I teach is free on the internet so why pay for it. I wonder if he may be right as attendance lately has been slim. I will have to think about it. I guess maybe us old timers need to get out of the way and let the internet do its job.

    PC7060Mad Dog_2ttekushan_3EdTheHeaterMan

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    Comments

    • ScottSecor
      ScottSecor Member Posts: 966

      Tim, I'm 56 years old and I suppose I qualify as an old timer to some.

      I still much prefer in person training, but I'm afraid that may be a thing of the past here in the NJ area. I suppose I may be the minority these days.

      Mad Dog_2
    • STEAM DOCTOR
      STEAM DOCTOR Member Posts: 2,352

      Gas and oil are things of the past?!?!?!? Not sure which rock he is living under. Queens , Brooklyn, Nassau county, Westchester...... Yet to see anything but oil or gas. And that's an awful lot of buildings. Just for starters

      Mad Dog_2nate379
    • STEAM DOCTOR
      STEAM DOCTOR Member Posts: 2,352

      I would suggest online/remote/zoom training sessions. Will allow you to reach more people. Googling for information is certainly not the best way to educate ones self. Training from an alltime master, is certainly far ablerandom Goggle searching.

      mattmia2Mad Dog_2Solid_Fuel_Man
    • Pumpguy
      Pumpguy Member Posts: 737

      Back in the late 1970s when I was working at Nash Engineering as a service manager, Nash had stopped making pumping equipment for steam heating applications. Their primary emphasis was, and is now, vacuum pumps and compressors for industrial process applications. They were still supporting their heaing pump product line with repair parts and our service department doing repairs.

      Our National Service Manager was visiting our office and told us "In 10 years there won't be any (Nash) heating pumps".

      Well here it is some 40 or more years on and there are still Nash heating pumps in service. I'm working on one now that was made in 1929. True, there aren't as many as there were then, but still plenty around.

      What I'm trying to illustrate is, at least from my experience, changes come slow in this business. I wouldn't let some know it all get me discouraged.

      Dennis Pataki. Former Service Manager and Heating Pump Product Manager for Nash Engineering Company. Phone: 1-888 853 9963
      Website: www.nashjenningspumps.com

      The first step in solving any problem is TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM.
      ttekushan_3Mad Dog_2
    • ttekushan_3
      ttekushan_3 Member Posts: 963

      @Tim McElwain , IMO, you were contacted by a smugnorant, techno-narcissistic, ageist, trolling, "current thing" ignoramus whose knowledge of the reality on the ground is so scant he is completely unaware of this shortcoming.

      There's no substitute for interaction with the highly knowledgeable and experienced. It's priceless. How many times I've wished I could talk to long passed virtuosos in the field.
      And here we are with you, a living treasure, who anyone in their right mind would want to encourage to continue passing on knowledge & Wisdom.

      The millions of combustion devices are not going anywhere overnight. All the more reason to learn well.

      You've got the wisdom, your toxic friend does not. Act accordingly!

      Terry T

      steam; proportioned minitube; trapless; jet pump return; vac vent. New Yorker CGS30C

      bburdMad Dog_2SuperTech
    • hot_rod
      hot_rod Member Posts: 24,925

      Asking him, or her, what they are willing to pay for that suggestion🤐

      Probably an electrification troll, Elon maybe

      Bob "hot rod" Rohr
      trainer for Caleffi NA
      Living the hydronic dream
    • MaxMercy
      MaxMercy Member Posts: 537

      Gas and oil will be around for decades yet. How can I describe the gentleman and his beliefs without getting political. I can't …

      Mad Dog_2
    • GGross
      GGross Member Posts: 1,484

      Sometimes as your fame rises, as your reach grows, you will attract "haters". And when your dealings move to the online world, those "haters" will sometimes feel emboldened to make personal attacks against you. What they want is for you to get upset. In my experience with internet trolls, it is generally best to block them and move on. Don't give them the satisfaction they crave in acknowledging them.

      Mad Dog_2daviddLarry Weingarten
    • EBEBRATT-Ed
      EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 17,630

      Stop when YOU want to stop Tim. Plenty of gas, oil and steam around never mind the hot water.

      Probably someone that works for the electric company

    • Mad Dog_2
      Mad Dog_2 Member Posts: 8,030

      Whacko Timmie...that"s all Jealous, keyboard warrior. Timmie the U.S. Navy Vet would still whup em! You are Wall Treasure Elder Statesman for us. You go as long as you want to go. Mad Dog

      Consulting by Mad Dog & Matt Jr.
      STEVEusaPA
    • Solid_Fuel_Man
      Solid_Fuel_Man Member Posts: 2,644
      edited March 2023

      Don't let anyone tell you when it's time.

      That is your decision, only you can make it.

      I'd take your class if it were online, as I'm in the farthest corner of the continental US.

      I'm quite sure I'm one of the young guys here at

      Serving Northern Maine HVAC & Controls. I burn wood, it smells good!
    • Steamhead
      Steamhead Member Posts: 17,744

      I certainly would not refer to that guy as a "gentleman"……………..

      All Steamed Up, Inc.
      Towson, MD, USA
      Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
      Oil & Gas Burner Service
      Consulting
      Mad Dog_2
    • EdTheHeaterMan
      EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 10,375
      edited March 2023

      The gentleman stated that what I teach is no longer needed as gas and oil is a thing of the past. He went on to state that 83 year old men like me should know when it is time to quit as you are out of touch with what is happening to day. He also stated that all the stuff I teach is free on the internet so why pay for it. 

      Send your son a reply email and say you still love them, but that you still have some youngsters that need to learn this stuff. And that you will try to get to Sunday dinner more often.

      Edward Young Retired

      After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?

      Mad Dog_2
    • unclejohn
      unclejohn Member Posts: 1,833

      Directly above my head is a gas water heater with a pilot burning as I type. I thought I knew everything There was to know about that pilot untill I came here and found Mr McElwain. Thank you sir.

      Mad Dog_2
    • guzzinerd
      guzzinerd Member Posts: 334

      For someone living far away from any qualified steam man, you guys ARE the internet. I'd have no chance with our old gas boiler without you guys

      Bryant 245-8, 430k btu, 2-pipe steam in a 1930s 6-unit 1-story apt building in the NM mountains. 26 radiators 3800sqf

      Mad Dog_2
    • Mad Dog_2
      Mad Dog_2 Member Posts: 8,030

      Many people are real tough 💪 sending an anonymous letter, or saying something behind your back. He has to walk 🚶‍♂️ in the 👞 shoes of a Coward and you Timmie walk the Foward Deck of life in the Shoes of a Hero...an industry hero to 🇺🇸 us. Carry on sailor!

      Mad Dog

      Consulting by Mad Dog & Matt Jr.
      STEAM DOCTORunclejohn
    • Mad Dog_2
      Mad Dog_2 Member Posts: 8,030

      My Very patriotic mother, Colleen (RIP) flew Old Glory outside our childhood home across town EVERY DAY AND NIGHT (spotlight) except for like the two weeks before St Patricks Day. In those two weeks, The Flag of The Irish Republic flew. One year, she gets a nasty, insulting -ANONYMOUS of course (Coward) - letter about how terrible it was to fly This Non-American Flag..blah blah..blah ..you're not a Good American 😕....et etcetera.

      She was really upset 😡. I wanted to dust it for finger prints and pay them a visit. I did one MUCH better..REVANCHE! My Floral Park American Legion Post had a contest about dedicated Flag flyers..it nominated her. She won, was in the Village paper and got honored at a Ceremony. She felt extremely proud and better about the whole thing. I'm sure that jerk was stewing...ha ha. Mad Dog

      Consulting by Mad Dog & Matt Jr.
      STEAM DOCTORunclejohnTim_DMaxMercy
    • Tim_D
      Tim_D Member Posts: 129

      Disheartening that we have become a society that accepts and possibly encourages randomly attacking one another for absolutly no rational or productive purpose. I call them keyboard comando's. This crap didn't fly when you had to insult people face to face.

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