dave moore

When you remove the injector pump dipstick, have a look at the oil viscosity. With ours, diesel leakage diluted the oil a little from time to time. I used a large syringe and pipe to extract it then refill with fresh oil. Good luck! Happy to chat if it helps, you have my number.

I know John too and it’s a good while since we touched base, probably 10 years or so. He was with us at Birmingham rag market where he struck lucky with a good number of lace plates for his cabin.

I’ve always said that Sod’s Law bites harder and deeper where boats and boating are concerned. As far as attitudes go these days , all of the old timers , myself included, hold the opinion that things are less pleasant these days . We had the best of it long ago……

A proper can . Thanks!!

Hi Graham. The painter of that can was a lady I knew called Gill Buxbaum, quite busy long ago. I’ve not seen or heard of her for some time, I think they moved from North Wales to Scotland. David, as far as I’m aware, there are only 2 sources of water cans these days. Quality replica Grand Union 2 gallon cans are sometimes available from Rose Narrowboats at Brinklow while souvenir type stuff, quite different, comes from Black Country Metalworks, based in Oswestry. I’ve had conversations with a few folk interested in making cans but I think that the practicalities/ profitability aspects have got in the way. For me, as a painter, it’s a bit of a bugger!

Cheers Rob....must be a few years since I did that for you. Good to see it again!👍

Maybe,,as an older can it might have been repaired. Lesters soldering I’ve always found to be good.

That looks very much like a water can made by Birmingham tinsmiths A G Lester. All of the many I’ve painted were galvanised. You are right to hang on to it, decent cans are hard to come by these days. Black Country Metalworks cans are really only souvenir ware, Lesters were quality. They stopped making them in the late 90s, I think. I agree with your comment about the paintwork!

No, I think that they were painted by the owners wife. Nothing like my work!

Painter Mike Looby did the paint job at Heyford Fields Marina in the later twenty teens, I added the lettering when he’d finished. The then owner and myself had both undergone surgery for bowel cancer, we compared notes and he remarked “ Here we are…a right pair of semi colons!!”

Thanks for that. You are the 4th in that case. I’ll add to the list! Decent windlasses are a thing of the past, these days, Duntons excepted.

I know of only 3 folk with Neal windlasses, all of us long term boater’s who prize stuff from working days. I’ve had mine since the 60s and I suspect that the other owners are in a similar situation. I’m not looking to sell at the moment....good luck with the search!

Hi Muddy I’d go with your 70s dates for the Jordan windlasses. If I recall correctly he was based in the yard at the top of the 21 in Wolverhampton. I can’t help with actual dates for Neal and Cooke windlasses but I acquired both of mine in the 60s, the Neal having been under water for some time judging by the pitting on it. Cliff Sherwood who lives in the cottage by Greensforge lock on the Staffs and Worcs may well be able to help. Harry Neal was based on the BCN at Smethwick while the Cooke windlasses were forged at Wheelock on the T&M. I’ll try and speak with Cliff soon and see what he says

I’ve written quite a few boats in Longwood top lock years ago. Don’t remember having to move out!!

I can shed light on this. Titan was commissioned by Dr Ian Thompson, a local canal enthusiast since the 60s. It was his 3rd boat, Malcom Braine built his first, Temeraire, then in the 90s Norton Canes built a motorised butty, Tenacious, we called it the “ mutty “ at NC. Titan was built by next door builders, CTS, the intention being to base the boat in Ireland, sadly health issues put paid to that plan and the boat stayed in the Midlands. Ian lived at Hinksford on the S&W and was heavily involved with the RN diesel engine company, hence the Trad Engine Specialists on the cabin sides. My work was on all 3 boats. Ian was a fine fellow and I mourn his passing some years ago. Family wheeled him out to the wharf shortly before his death to listen to the engines he loved so much. All 3 boats were sold later. Poor Titan.

Thanks, Brian. That was the original post I saw earlier.

Thank you both, I’m glad to hear that she’s afloat again and without too much damage. I can’t find the Facebook page, is there a link? It’s the first time that one of “ my” boats has suffered so. Bit of a shock!!

I heard recently that Dave Parrot may still be able to help, although he’s only making in winter. The stuff he made for Resolute, years ago, was top notch, proper traditional work.

Browsing Facebook earlier, I was dismayed to learn of the sinking of Titan, a tug style boat by CTS that I’ve had much to do with over the years. Apparently it looks like a classic cill job, stern on the cill and bows under. Has anybody heard about this or have more information? Please share. Dave

All of my windlasses are long term. The oldest,a Harry Neil No 2 I acquired from Ronnie Aldridge in the 60s, a swap for a gas bottle. It’s gone in on several occasions but I’ve always managed to pull it out. From the same time, but I can’t recall where from is an original GH Cooke “ Wheelock” windlass, with a smaller than standard eye to fit the spindles of the T&M locks as they were. Back in the 70s BW did some cast Neil copies, handsome things, and I had one chrome plated. All are a joy to use……

Going back to the starn end modern photo, I thought that the fender fitment rather awful. My long term understanding is that the rear fenders were fitted to overhang the rudder by a few inches, offering protection in the case of impact. Traditionally, two tip cats and a button were sufficient, all seated high around the counter and with a lift from first to last. One of the old school, Roger Hatchard, used to put a real lift to his rear fenders, they became known as “ Hatchard’s Cannons” because of their rakish uplift. The dreary chains and low siting of a short fender on the photo would do little to achieve the original purpose, to my eyes.

I had one once, luckily only a couple of hundred yards from the boatyard mooring. We craned the stern out of the water by the slipway and I set to work with bolt crops. 20 mins later and it was gone, I fear you may not be so lucky. Might Wyvern Shipping be able to help? Just a thought.

I agree. It’s not about rushing, rather working efficiently and making decent progress. Many of the old timers, myself included, prefer to boat in this way while still observing old time courtesies which seem to be sadly lacking today.

I can’t help but you may not know that Laurence died several years ago now, hence the website vacancy.

My first hire boat experience was with Graham Palmer and his friend Howard, he hired one of the wooden fleet from Ernie Thomas at Calf Heath, an ex working boat hull with a square stern. Soon after I spent a few weeks with Lady Helen, a Gas St based hire boat, skippering it for a film crew. They were making a film about our canals, the trip was from Stoke Bruerne to the Anderton Lift. I never saw the finished film, if ever it saw the light of day. That was 1967.