Laurence Hogg

Very likely taken at Brentford.

A nightmare of bits of ideas - a little knowledge IS dangerous. FMC steamers had a bearing aft the blades set in a vertical strut in some cases, also some had four blade props, all OK if used correctly. The blade shown in the picture is a three blade btw. Well done Leo 2 in commenting on where the pictures came from.

Its very likely taken from the path outside the old mission wharf just north of the bridge.

A picture you will never be able to take again - 1979

Was built by Roger Sharpe at Shardlow and moored there for years, very likely still extant.

Yes they did.Often on the upstand of the engine room ventilator or central on front engine room bulkhead. They were quite small btw.

"50% cite financial reasons as motivation for living on a boat; but an overwhelming 82% are attracted by the waterway environment (boats, wildlife, tranquillity etc)." ....... Ummm, in the MIDDLE of London??? I think they are fibbing!

The windlasses will find their own level. The brass plaques are virtually worthless and you will get better money from a scrap yard sale. We have still a large quantity of "new" brass plaques which are unsaleable, a fair quantity of those went to a scrappie in 2012. Put the windlasses on ebay, well described and to finish the day after boxing day at a sensible time, ie 19.00. There is a lot of spare money to be spent after xmas and you may get a good sale.

Don't you still wish we had my former "Boatmans Cabin Co Ltd" still in operation, your needs would have been "off the shelf". Worth ringing John Bolsom at High Line Iver (01753 651496), they hold the remaining stock to see what he may have left. Keatleys in Birmingham may still have some barley twist brass tube in stock, they are the firm Pete mentions near the bottom of the locks.

In 1973 it looked like this:

DONT give anything to the CRT museums. They will fail to record, display and take any notice of what you tell them. Then they will probably "lose" them, I have no idea where my stuff is and probably never will have.

Thanks Ray, hadnt seen that one before. Last sighting known was in 1993 on the K&A the boat was described as in exceptional condition, she had a lot of work done between my ownership and then. Never been seen again to my knowledge.

Off topic but worth asking. Does anyone know of the fate or whereabouts of "Neptune" ex Samuel Barlow / GUCCCo small ricky motor?

Carl is right on this. If anyone was in any way interested they would have come forward by now. The best way to conserve these craft is to record them as is detailing as much info as possible, then if no willing party is around a decision has to be made. Best salvage what is possible and burn the rest. No way will anyone "pay" for these wrecks, Jan cannot be appreciating the situation correctly. A shame but they are dead as far as I can see.

Absolutely correct, FMC drawings confirm this, all had a flat roof whilst the bottom line followed the sweep of the hull.

I dont think that article was very well researched, there is a lot missing. I am not sure of "enter-prise"'s fate but note it is "enter-prise" not "enterprise". Also some of the steamers, ie "jubilee" don't have conventional motor sterns another thing I seem to remember wasn't in the article. "Calder"s remains lie at Harefield in Hawtreys pit btw.

The Horse boat may well be one coming north from the Griffiths depot in Brentford, they had a small fleet there of which a few photos survive, "Enterprise" certainly worked out of there as she is on one of the photos.

Oh dear isnt there anything better on the TV? ...................................... BCN part 4 - lot of that has changed for ever!

They are simply weights to help balance the gate, they are seen on quite a few early lock pictures.

There are no such things as "classes" in the FMC fleet, just builders, you will not find a sngle reference to "fish" or any other name in FMC records, motors being simply referred to by the HP of the engine.

Oh Boy! what stupid bidding, up 5K in less that a couple of minutes. Bet this is back on the market rather quickly!! Nice boat but ------ its a wooden one = deep pockets required (instantly)!

Many years ago whilst running as "Inland Waterways Models" I was asked to clean and repair this very old model boat for Stoke Bruerne museum. It was alleged to date from mid 17th century and be a model for a fly boat. It had a completely round bottom but was made in such a way as to be very accurate with its detail. The painting was very plain, cabin sides were pale cream (white originally?) but the other colours are those still seen today. I reckon it is possibly the earliest accurate example of a livery, whose I don't know. Where the model is today I am unsure but it ought to be on show. Photo taken around 1973