Screen doors

> I'll know for sure after I have a chance to dig out that receipt tonight
> when the coach gets back home from Austin. I can't remember who it was
> from. Just that it is yellow and has red print. :-) I remember being
> shocked about the price of it though.
>

> >Thanks to all that responded on the Alex Birch Screen Door. Billy, Was the
> >receipt from Albea or a middle man and did you really pay 600 bucks? Just
> >curious.
> >Dan
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: Billy Massey
> >To: gmcmotorhome
> >Date: Friday, June 09, 2000 3:33 PM
> >Subject: Re: GMC: Screen doors
> >
> >
> > >I've got a receipt that shows a little over $600 including shipping from
> > >Michigan to Texas.
> > >
> > >bdub
> > >
> > >

> > >>While I do know where there is a NOS Alex Birch Screen door still
> > >>in the cardboard wrapper, does anyone know what they sold for ??
> > >>Sorry, I'm not permitted to reveal the location....yet !
> > >>Thanks
> > >>Mikeb ' 77 Kingsley
> > >> Antigonish NS

I have a receipt in my pile of stuff from the PO for my screen door. It was an
invoice from "Albea Enterprises, Clawson, MI", dated 15-Sept-81 in the amount of
$232.40. That was for the screen door and installation. Apparently Alex
installed and manufactured the doors (at least he installed ones purchased
locally).

For something that is almost 20 years old, it has held up very well. There are
very little signs of wear. The screen material is still like new. I have to
assume at some point the PO replaced the screens (metal on lower and fiberglass
on top).

The more I look at it the more impressed I am with it. It is a very well
designed and constructed item.

I do however have to adjust the hinges a little. The hinges are binding a little
and they are causing me to have slam the complete door assembly with a little
more vigor then I would like in order to make it close completely. I didn't
close it completely one night and we had a major thunderstorm and water leaked in
and soiled my new Guske pleated shade that is installed in the door.

I don't have any idea how to adjust the screen door. If I knew Alex was up and
around I would go over to his house and have him show me. I think he still lives
about 5 miles from my house.

Richard Waters
'76 PB, Troy, MI
 
Richard

Thanks for your comment on the Albea screen door. I believe Alex does still
live close to you but from my conversations with him and his wife, he does
not move very fast anymore. Just from visiting with him he sounds like a
person who would be willing to tell you how to adjust your door hinges if
you gave him a call and if he were able would do it himself.
I have heard many positive things regarding the quality and design of this
particular screen door and am happy to hear that after 19 years it is not
only serving its purpose but still looks good too. Not bad for a couple
hundred bucks. I doubt that they had powder coating then (1981) but I do
know that the later copies of the door were powder coated. It would be
interesting to see how many of these early doors are still in service. I
was told that Alex began the business in 1976.
Thanks again for the comment

Daniel Jacquot
Sheridan WY
- -----Original Message-----
From: Richard Waters

>I have a receipt in my pile of stuff from the PO for my screen door. It
was an
>invoice from "Albea Enterprises, Clawson, MI", dated 15-Sept-81 in the
amount of
>$232.40. That was for the screen door and installation. Apparently Alex
>installed and manufactured the doors (at least he installed ones purchased
>locally).
>
>For something that is almost 20 years old, it has held up very well. There
are
>very little signs of wear. The screen material is still like new. I have
to
>assume at some point the PO replaced the screens (metal on lower and
fiberglass
>on top).
>
>The more I look at it the more impressed I am with it. It is a very well
>designed and constructed item.
>
>I do however have to adjust the hinges a little. The hinges are binding a
little
>and they are causing me to have slam the complete door assembly with a
little
>more vigor then I would like in order to make it close completely. I
didn't
>close it completely one night and we had a major thunderstorm and water
leaked in
>and soiled my new Guske pleated shade that is installed in the door.
>
>I don't have any idea how to adjust the screen door. If I knew Alex was up
and
>around I would go over to his house and have him show me. I think he still
lives
>about 5 miles from my house.
>
>Richard Waters
>'76 PB, Troy, MI
>
 
Hi Netters

Just looked up the receipt for the Alex Birch screen door. I can't imagine
why I remembered it being so much but actually it was $265. The door hook,
crating charge, and shipping made it a grand total of $330. Sorry for the
mis-information. My memory's getting really bad I guess.

bdub

>I'll know for sure after I have a chance to dig out that receipt tonight
>when the coach gets back home from Austin. I can't remember who it was
>from. Just that it is yellow and has red print. :-) I remember being
>shocked about the price of it though.
>
>I'll holler tonight when I find it.
>
>bdub
>
>
>

>>Thanks to all that responded on the Alex Birch Screen Door. Billy, Was the
>>receipt from Albea or a middle man and did you really pay 600 bucks? Just
>>curious.
>>Dan
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: Billy Massey
>>To: gmcmotorhome
>>Date: Friday, June 09, 2000 3:33 PM
>>Subject: Re: GMC: Screen doors
>>
>>
>> >I've got a receipt that shows a little over $600 including shipping from
>> >Michigan to Texas.
>> >
>> >bdub
>> >
>> >

>> >>While I do know where there is a NOS Alex Birch Screen door still
>> >>in the cardboard wrapper, does anyone know what they sold for ??
>> >>Sorry, I'm not permitted to reveal the location....yet !
>> >>Thanks
>> >>Mikeb ' 77 Kingsley
>> >> Antigonish NS
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> > >I would like your comments on Alex Birch Screen doors??? I have
>> >> seen the
>> >> > >sceen door and think it is a great product but was wondering if it
>>would
>> >> > >warrant reproducing them. I have talked to Alex about producing the
>>door
>> >> > >but need to know if there is a demand for it???
>> >> > >
>> >> > >Dan
>> >> >
>> >> > Dan - I think that there might be a small market. I believe that it
>> >> > was posted on this site a year or so ago that Birch wanted about
>> >> > $40,000 for his company and patterns, etc. I doubt that there is
>> >> > that much of a market though to justify that much up front expense.
>> >> > You could always post an inquiry on this site as to who might be
>> >> > interested if you could produce a satisfactory door and get some idea
>> >> > that way of what the market might be.
>> >> >
>> >> > Emery Stora
>> >> > 77 Kingsley
>> >> > Santa Fe, NM
>> >> >
>> >
 
Peg,
Thanks for responding.

Where do you hook your bungee strap? I looked and don't see anywhere that it
could hook.
Richard

> Richard we use a short bungee strap to keep the door open, hook to bottom of
> door and underside of coach, works great.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-gmcmotorhome
> [mailto:owner-gmcmotorhome]On Behalf Of Richard Waters
> Sent: Friday, June 09, 2000 11:13 PM
> To: gmcmotorhome
> Subject: Re: GMC: Screen doors
>
> I have one of the Birch doors on my coach. It came with the coach when I
> bought
> it. At the time I was looking at the GMC we bought, the PO kept talking
> about
> the screen door. I was saying to myself, "what's the big deal with a screen
> door? My house has a screen door and I don't point it out to people that
> come
> over."
>
> Also, I thought everyone had one on their GMC's so I didn't think it was a
> big
> deal. The more he talked about it, the more nervous I got. It seemed kind
> of
> like when you're looking at a house to buy and the only thing the owner can
> come
> up with why it's a good deal is because it has a new water heater. Well
> that's
> what I thought about the Birch screen door. Big deal!
>
> It is nicely made. It fits pretty well. However, we have never used it as
> intended. So far in the last 2 years we never have had the door open and
> the
> screen door closed. Part of that is because we don't have anything to keep
> the
> door from banging back and forth in the breeze. Some sort of hook would be
> nice
> to keep the door secure against the side of the coach while the screen door
> is
> keeping the bugs out.
>
> We now realize what a treasure we have. The screen door is probably worth
> more
> then having a new engine or tranny or something :^) I lan on using the
> screen
> door this Summer. And, no it is not for sale!
> Richard Waters
> '76 PB, Troy, MI
>

>
> > I have one and recommend it for anyone. I works great and does the
> > job. The design is good and could use some tweaking as I had to work
> > real hard to get it installed. However, if I did not have one I
> > would buy one of Alex's.
> > al
> >
> > >I would like your comments on Alex Birch Screen doors??? I have seen
> the
> > >sceen door and think it is a great product but was wondering if it would
> > >warrant reproducing them. I have talked to Alex about producing the
> door
> > >but need to know if there is a demand for it???
> > >
> > >Dan
 
Richard,

I use a long bungee cord and hook it to the bracket for the side rail /
crossmember brace between the front wheel and the door. Works for me.

Peter
77 Eleganza II
Colorado

- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard Waters"
To:
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2000 7:42 AM
Subject: Re: GMC: Screen doors

> Peg,
> Thanks for responding.
>
> Where do you hook your bungee strap? I looked and don't see anywhere that
it
> could hook.
> Richard
>

>
> > Richard we use a short bungee strap to keep the door open, hook to
bottom of
> > door and underside of coach, works great.
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: owner-gmcmotorhome
> > [mailto:owner-gmcmotorhome]On Behalf Of Richard Waters
> > Sent: Friday, June 09, 2000 11:13 PM
> > To: gmcmotorhome
> > Subject: Re: GMC: Screen doors
> >
> > I have one of the Birch doors on my coach. It came with the coach when
I
> > bought
> > it. At the time I was looking at the GMC we bought, the PO kept talking
> > about
> > the screen door. I was saying to myself, "what's the big deal with a
screen
> > door? My house has a screen door and I don't point it out to people
that
> > come
> > over."
> >
> > Also, I thought everyone had one on their GMC's so I didn't think it was
a
> > big
> > deal. The more he talked about it, the more nervous I got. It seemed
kind
> > of
> > like when you're looking at a house to buy and the only thing the owner
can
> > come
> > up with why it's a good deal is because it has a new water heater. Well
> > that's
> > what I thought about the Birch screen door. Big deal!
> >
> > It is nicely made. It fits pretty well. However, we have never used it
as
> > intended. So far in the last 2 years we never have had the door open
and
> > the
> > screen door closed. Part of that is because we don't have anything to
keep
> > the
> > door from banging back and forth in the breeze. Some sort of hook would
be
> > nice
> > to keep the door secure against the side of the coach while the screen
door
> > is
> > keeping the bugs out.
> >
> > We now realize what a treasure we have. The screen door is probably
worth
> > more
> > then having a new engine or tranny or something :^) I lan on using the
> > screen
> > door this Summer. And, no it is not for sale!
> > Richard Waters
> > '76 PB, Troy, MI
> >

> >
> > > I have one and recommend it for anyone. I works great and does the
> > > job. The design is good and could use some tweaking as I had to work
> > > real hard to get it installed. However, if I did not have one I
> > > would buy one of Alex's.
> > > al
> > >
> > > >I would like your comments on Alex Birch Screen doors??? I have
seen
> > the
> > > >sceen door and think it is a great product but was wondering if it
would
> > > >warrant reproducing them. I have talked to Alex about producing the
> > door
> > > >but need to know if there is a demand for it???
> > > >
> > > >Dan
>
>
 
Richard, hook the bungee strap to the bottom of the door and then to the
coach body

- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-gmcmotorhome
[mailto:owner-gmcmotorhome]On Behalf Of Richard Waters
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2000 9:43 AM
To: gmcmotorhome
Subject: Re: GMC: Screen doors

Peg,
Thanks for responding.

Where do you hook your bungee strap? I looked and don't see anywhere that
it
could hook.
Richard

> Richard we use a short bungee strap to keep the door open, hook to bottom
of
> door and underside of coach, works great.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-gmcmotorhome
> [mailto:owner-gmcmotorhome]On Behalf Of Richard Waters
> Sent: Friday, June 09, 2000 11:13 PM
> To: gmcmotorhome
> Subject: Re: GMC: Screen doors
>
> I have one of the Birch doors on my coach. It came with the coach when I
> bought
> it. At the time I was looking at the GMC we bought, the PO kept talking
> about
> the screen door. I was saying to myself, "what's the big deal with a
screen
> door? My house has a screen door and I don't point it out to people that
> come
> over."
>
> Also, I thought everyone had one on their GMC's so I didn't think it was a
> big
> deal. The more he talked about it, the more nervous I got. It seemed
kind
> of
> like when you're looking at a house to buy and the only thing the owner
can
> come
> up with why it's a good deal is because it has a new water heater. Well
> that's
> what I thought about the Birch screen door. Big deal!
>
> It is nicely made. It fits pretty well. However, we have never used it
as
> intended. So far in the last 2 years we never have had the door open and
> the
> screen door closed. Part of that is because we don't have anything to
keep
> the
> door from banging back and forth in the breeze. Some sort of hook would
be
> nice
> to keep the door secure against the side of the coach while the screen
door
> is
> keeping the bugs out.
>
> We now realize what a treasure we have. The screen door is probably worth
> more
> then having a new engine or tranny or something :^) I lan on using the
> screen
> door this Summer. And, no it is not for sale!
> Richard Waters
> '76 PB, Troy, MI
>

>
> > I have one and recommend it for anyone. I works great and does the
> > job. The design is good and could use some tweaking as I had to work
> > real hard to get it installed. However, if I did not have one I
> > would buy one of Alex's.
> > al
> >
> > >I would like your comments on Alex Birch Screen doors??? I have seen
> the
> > >sceen door and think it is a great product but was wondering if it
would
> > >warrant reproducing them. I have talked to Alex about producing the
> door
> > >but need to know if there is a demand for it???
> > >
> > >Dan
 
Dan.
One of my dislikes, and many others is the opening on the screen door
for acess to the outside door. Possibly a different system than the 3
sliding panels. Perhaps make the opening bigger. My lock button for the
outside door interferes with the screen door.
As I mentioned to you, my door is sloopy. Perhaps a more rigid grade of
Aluminum? Stiffer hinges?
Regards, Gil
 
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