By the late 1980s I had found my way into the growing world of automotive electronics installation through Robert Nash Distributors in Glenside, Pennsylvania.
The job was simple in structure but demanding in practice. Every morning installers reported to the warehouse at 7:30. The day’s work orders were divided up, vehicles were assigned, and the installers loaded their vehicles with parts and supplies. From there we were sent out across the region to dealerships, service centers, and body shops.
Once you left the warehouse, you were on your own.
Each installation meant dealing directly with service managers and parts departments, completing the work correctly, and securing the purchase order before moving on to the next location. No supervisor stood over your shoulder. Your reputation depended entirely on the quality and speed of your work.
For me, the job fit perfectly.
My earlier experience at Cyan Electronics had taught me how automotive accessories should be installed properly, and the fabrication work I had done gave me confidence with tools and problem-solving. Compared with many installers who were brought in off the street, I already understood both the mechanical and electrical sides of the work.
The pay structure was commission per installation rather than hourly wages. If you worked efficiently and maintained quality, you could do very well.
I was fast, and I was good at what I did.
As new products appeared on the market upgraded stereos, alarm systems, cruise controls, cellular phones, and other accessories I often found myself assigned to the more complicated installations. Those jobs required careful wiring, attention to detail, and the ability to adapt quickly to different vehicle designs.
During this time Robert Nash Distributors also became involved with the early days of cellular telephone installation through MetroPhone, which would later become Comcast MetroPhone. In those early years of cellular service, the industry operated under a government system that divided providers into “wireline” and “non-wireline” companies in an attempt to prevent monopolies.
For installers, it meant a steady stream of new technology to integrate into vehicles.
By the early 1990s the installation department began restructuring. Rather than maintaining a traditional employee workforce, installers were given the option to operate as independent subcontractors.
In 1992 I accepted that opportunity.
That decision marked the beginning of C Jay’s Custom Auto Accessories, my own installation business operating within the dealer network.
It was the start of a new level of independence and responsibility that would shape the next chapter of my career.