dave moore

I’ve had a closer look at the rivets on the Joseph Ash can. I’m fairly certain that they are original rather than repairs. The heads, inside the can, are galvanised over from its original dipping. The wire wheel I used to strip some of the paint off may well have removed that on the domed exteriors. Dave

Hi Pete I think that this was the work of the Flemings, not Fill, though I can’t ascribe which hand it may have been. They were certainly active around that time, possibly based in the Great Haywood area...it’s all long ago now.... Here’s a recently completed can by yours truly, one of the batch of Lesters I acquired recently. Had I known you were looking for an Ash can, I’d have been in touch. Sarah Edgson liked it too. Sorry.

The “ Mouses Ears”, nothing to do with the Disney version, had its origin in cart painting that preceded canal boats. Tony Lewery explored the connection in his early book, Narrowboat Painting. In my opinion, a decent set has the apex, or crown, touching the top of the doors in the centre and generous, sweeping curves, no straight lines, around the shoulders, ending at the point where the rear bulkhead meets the gunwale. Ventilation grilles can pose interesting issues for continuing the line..... Before the question is asked, the scalloping on the front bulkhead of working boats, usually in black on red oxide, is known to some painters as “ Elephants Toenails” on account of their similarity. Anorak off here......cheers! Dave

Thanks, Alan. A highly respected forum member thinks it may well be by Joseph Ash of Birmingham. I’ve painted their stuff previously but have never encountered the copper rivets. The whole thing is a testimony to old time craftsmanship. Dave

I posted a while back about decent cans. All but one 3 gallon are now spoken for. Among the Lesters output was an old, solid can with a bucket handle, doubtless a survivor from carrying days. It carries a couple of dents, nothing that can’t be eased out with care. I’ve just removed the drab olive paint someone had applied and was delighted to uncover copper rivets holding the handles to the body, something I’ve not come across before. Would anyone care to put a name to the manufacturer? It’s a new one on me! Thoughts welcome....... Dave

Quality is usually expensive. They are very well made.

I cut through the steel wall with a cutting disc on an angle grinder then used a jigsaw to cut off the steel bead. With that gone, it’s easy to cut the tyre to fit the fender. When pulling the rope strings to tighten up the tyre, it’s a good idea to lead them through the fender covering as well, in a couple of places. This helps to stop the tyre from slipping around when in use.

Athy, a similar thing happened in Kidderminster a few years ago. A pub properly called the Grand Turk, closed, was rebranded the Rank Turd by someone with a wicked sense of humour. If only I’d kept the photo......

Second coating existing work is easier for a novice than starting from scratch, but the techniques required to use a lettering brush successfully need lots of practice and aren’t acquired in a few moments. The cabin side is a very public space , as I know only too well.....

Thank you to those who gave me a heads up. To be honest, travelling to and from Wiltshire to simply add a name makes little economic sense. Ginny Barlow works that way and should be able to help. Years ago I travelled widely, these days, older and creakier, I stay closer to home, preferring to work under cover. The hands and eyes work as well as they ever did, knees and back less so. Back in the 70s I helped out at a local music shop on Saturdays. One of the owners, Jack McKechnie, former guitarist with the Hedley Ward Trio, was a man of quick wit and an ear for the bon mot. I bumped into him after retirement and asked after his health. ” Dave” he answered “ Don’t get old “ ” What do you mean, Jack? “ I asked. ” Well”, he replied “ All the bits that used to work don’t, any more......and the ones that are left, hurt” Nearing 70, I now have a clear understanding of his response. Cheers!

Now at Glascote.

I wrote her as Bosworth Lady, first for Bill and Sue Jeffrey at Sutton Cheney on the Ashby and years later for the Away Group, based on Gas St.

I bought a second hand inverter welder some years ago, just to get a feel for the arc welding process, inspired by the experts at Norton Canes Boatbuilders. Graham Edgson started me off and gave me a box of rods and lots of scrap offcuts to play with. Sometimes I could produce a decent fillet, sometimes one l likened to pigeon crap....without knowing what I’d done differently. The welder was fine, said Graham....must have been me!

Looks to me like untreated scratches where water has penetrated and lifted the paint. I could be wrong...

I am NOT responsible for any wine glass clutching frogs dancing down anyone’s cabin sides!!!! ???