dave moore

I can only agree with your last comment, Tony. I’ve had many enquiries over the years, along the lines of “We’ve just bought a boat and want to change the name.....” When I explain that the panel has to be flatted completely and repainted before applying new work, the reaction is often surprise, sometimes incredulity. I’ve even seen freshly blasted boats with no paint left where the shadow of the lettering remains evident on the bare steel. Funny stuff, paint.....thanks to the earlier contributors who left positive comments on my work, by the way. Dave

Must have been a hell of a lot of work to warrant a grand, nearly.....😏

Hi The professional painters I work with vary, but the following are in regular use and give crisp, clean lines. All are safe to leave on for some time, say up to 14 days. Kleen Edge tape and Tesa 3443 ( think the numbers are right) Both available from decent decorators’ merchants or chandleries. Craftmaster 14 day, red, from Craftmaster paints or their stockists. Avoid cheap paper backed types like the plague. Good luck!

Most primers and undercoats are porous to some extent, gloss supplying the seal. I wouldn’t consider such an approach.

Here is another example similar to my copper can, this owned by friends. Found in an antiques shop in Bishops Castle, Shropshire. Lovely.

Unless windows etc come out you can never be sure what lies beneath. None of the painters I work with would proceed without removal. I’ve seen many jobs where rust has bubbled up after a quick repaint. I’ve no knowledge of this painter or his work. Dave

The festival of Turd polishers, perhaps??

I agree with Pete that the cans were a product were probably Victorian, I’ve seen a good few similar containers in antique centres over the years. The following pictures are of something similar from those or Edwardian times which I bought last year. It’s a 2 gallonish copper can, very like a canal water can save for the lack of a hinged lid on the top. As far as I can ascertain, these copper versions were hot water carriers, used to take water to the washstand from the kitchen or outhouse, wherever the source was. I remember the marble topped washstand, with its basin and jug, from my childhood. It could have been that L T C Rolt’s description of those at Long Buckby in Narrowboat fixed the name often used and applied mistakenly, in my opinion. Some of the last manufacturers were Birmingham based, as befits the “ City of a thousand trades..” Dave

Hi Pete. It was a 2 gallon, I think. Most are, can’t recall if he supplied it or whether I did, possibly I had painted it for the previous owners of the boat who we knew. Dave

I painted that can some 10 years ago, the owner was a boater at the time, living canal side on the Staffs and Worcs. I believe he sold the boat some years ago and the relationship didn’t last. Always interesting to see where painted stuff ends up, often far away from waterway locations. I’ve unearthed stuff in Cornwall, Ludlow and Church Stretton in recent years. Dave

Old painted ware is now commanding big money. I heard recently of a can painted by Ron Hough selling for £600+, quite remarkable given his prodigious output. Rooting through old paperwork recently, I unearthed an invoice from the mid 90s for 3 2 gallon water cans from Lesters....a snip at £22.50 each. How times have changed!!

I didn’t see the programme, but I knew “ Young Charlie” as he was known years ago. He was a keen painter and lamp could well be his work. Was a value suggested?

I can only echo much of the advice offered here. Many of the surviving craft are virtual rebuilds, at great expense. The timbers used years ago were far more readily available, alternatives sometimes prohibitively expensive. Please think long and hard...please..,,

I can only agree with the above comments, also please bear in mind that there are very few boatyards on the system with the knowledge and skills to undertake any repairs needed. They are a labour of love for committed owners with deep pockets.

Tony’s output is well researched, representing a lifetimes obsession with the subject. If you are interested in the practical aspects of painting, I’m happy to chat and share information as a working signwriter and boat decorator in traditional styles. Dave