Derek R.

CORRECTION! He's still afloat - on the Limehouse cut. D.

I didn't get where I am today without recognising a pram chassis when I see one, but it's on the top of the wooden(?) boat breasted up alongside PISCES - a Ricky? More to the point (if there is one) what is that behind the chap sitting on the cabin top - a giant bucket? PS: Is that an early club burgee - which?

He's on the bank, but close by a river (a subterranean one), and doubtless still selling his attractive items - http://www.maxigrab.co.uk/ Derek PS: Registering to view sales is rather like paying to enter a car boot sale, in this case an email address is farmed and whilst I don't doubt the integrity (supported by Carl's comment) I simply won't go there. If you have goods for sale - show them. Perhaps Mr. Bassett would like to comment. I find it odd that whilst there are 'over' 43 images available to view through registration why bother - when there is adequate information in text to make anyone decide whether to view or not from that alone. Just a bit odd.

It's a nice boat, but the more folk want to know about me, the less I am inclined to want to know about them - or their brokered boats.

No, I think you are correct. It just reminded me of this: River Soar (somewhere!)

Certainly looks like CAPELLA, and the boat I viewed in Aylesbury when seeking a craft to live aboard. I recall CAPELLA had signwritten 'B. Bush, boat decoration' or some such on the cabin side when moored on the towpath in AY. PEARL was in the basin, and kitted out like a hotel boat with many small cabins off one long side corridor. There was a three pot Bolinder in the back end - I think where the back cabin once was. The whole plot needed much work, and beyond my reach. That would have been either late '79 or early '80. It was Beryl from POYLE (?) who was the welcoming 'committee' at that time, and a pleasant welcome it was. Some foam in that shot - River Soar?

For want of some entertainment, some find pleasure in winding others up. Usually in a field that is quite incomprehensible to them, even threatening to some degree, either socially or practically. They will neither understand, or want to. There's value in rivet counting, it allows some indication of past changes. But to use such as an insult, along with other personal details chosen by some through choice or circumstance, shows the shallowness of the poster. Best ignored.

What's the old saying - 'ask not what your club can do for you, but what you can do for your club'? I think that might have been pinched by some colonial president. Despite not being actively involved, I'm happy to continue subscriptions, and still enjoy the journal albeit only quarterly. Yes, NBOC - I still have the brass plaque, and I'm keeping it. They've had their ups and downs, but so has every club that's ever been in existence. Hopefully a greater membership will help sway C&RT policy towards one capable of supporting the deeper draughted vessels and consideration of historic infrastucture - what's left of it.

It can be done, but best to use a Bitumen sealer. Wife painted topsided with black many years ago. Didn't look at the tin, just read 'black'. Gloss black over the top soon had the bitumen bleeding through - blotchy and dull in patches. But this was fairly fresh bitumen. The sealer sorted it all out though. Did more painting that Spring than ever before!

Thanks for that, I thought it had a Bolinder so that was Clayton's. This DANE is lovely. Was it always called DANE? I could pitch for that, but I couldn't afford the running costs - hence now boatless. There comes a time when the head wins, usually through the wallet. If only . . .

If it's the DANE I knew back in the eighties, it was owned and run by Richard Booth for many years. Pete Thompson had, and I believe still has, COLONEL, whether he had DANE at any time I know not. Derek

Agreed. A bit like old branch lines bereft of signals, platelayers huts, and any vestige of former rail. Attractive cycleways they may be, and whilst a return to steam would be impractical on many grounds, some remnant of their former life has been completely eliminated. Scrapmen, collectors, and vandals - are they of the same blood? Probably not. The former two have saved much, and maybe kept it from the latter. Berko had the ribs of sunken boats above Lower King's Rd. They've gone. Seems they had water problems back a hundred years ago. "What's that Granddad?" But not here:

Arthur Bray is seen to do just this with the motor dollies in . 1m 35sec to 1m 50.

I'll have to check mine and make sure it is not false.

So, why do we say and spell it CRATCH, when on the drawings it's written CRUTCH - as in a support? Colloquial translation? I see a CRATCH is from the Old French, and defined as a rack for holding fodder.

Nice shots Alan. Pity it's going to get coloured up. Looks much nicer in grey primer, you look at the structure for what it is rather than have your senses assaulted with strong distracting colours. Could you imagine the Forth Bridge mulit-coloured! All black would be wrong, but grey works well. Should have painted TYCHO grey. That would have upset some . . . Others would say it's bad enough blue. Single colours enhance naturally beautiful shapes, though it would be a dull world if all were grey. Never have seen the underpassage, nor the lock flight. One day maybe. Edit: In Stagedamager's shot of the underpassage, are they remnants of a former tramway, or something else?

This is the Larbert we had. I'm told it's quite similar to a Guidwife. The crescent shaped flue box contains a flap which can be flipped over to either allow gases directly up the chimney, or around the oven and up the chimney. Came from a long gone 'antiques' shop in Camden back in 1980. I'm guessing you want boat stoves and not any of the French cuisinieres?

Much the same as the fishing boat that moored alongside us on the Thames. CARONEL was its name, owned by an ex-RAF pilot flying passenger jets for a commercial airline. Not many people know that . . .

Monmore Green certainly is the area and the railway ran through it, and the basin is accessed from Chillington Street, so maybe from the access point of view for boats and road, the basin was known by the Street, but from the railway perspective, the basin by Monmore Green. Was it ever called Monmore Green Junction? Just a thought. Edit: My home town of Wood Green had a station called Noel Park, with sidings of the same name during my childhood. Yet prior to, it was called Green Lanes as a station, and Green Lanes sidings. The sidings were accessed from the dead end bit of Pelham Road, and us locals just knew it as Pelham Road sidings. I remember a railway exhibition there as a child where rides were being given in a crate hoisted by a steam crane, and footplate access was allowed on MALLARD - in steam. A new diesel railcar was also on show, but most were unimpressed!

Granted, but there are some details in this set: Local photos. Can't help with the period though, sorry.

It's missing its friends. Speaking of missing something . . .

Who you 'know' will help in finding a boat, but not with the price. If you find a boat with little work needed to be done, the price will reflect it. If you find one that is a bare hull, expect to spend three times what it would fetch once up and running in sound condition. Is it worth it? Only you will know. But money will be your biggest ally if plentiful - or downfall if not.

Pete's records seem to marry with the gent on the back end who tells of his Father having WALTON from new in 1939. His name if I recall was Morris. He's on the video. (Not so sure about all the 'diddly-diddly' music. Prefer the launch to the concert - but well done Mike).

Good stuff. We did the Nine in 1983, and from what I see in those pictures not a lot had changed. We were heading for the 1983 National in Wigan, and booked in for the Ducie Street gathering prior to. After descending the Ashton at first light (we'd been given the tip-off at Dukinfield), we got to a very shabby looking basin with stones being skimmed across to the boats - and that was just one Grand-dad. The Nine were very low, and the short subterranean pound empty. Inviting it was not, and the Rochdale Canal Company very indifferent to our requests to pass through. Eventually found a 'new' lockie just moved in to his house somewhere along the route, and given some advice (I won't say what). Then later in the day met a volunteer from the Rochdale Canal Society, who was most helpful, and who aided us and another craft to get down the flight. It was not without some trepidation either. I remember one pound being quite low, and having had the water let out and the bottom gates partialy opened (rubbish prevented them from opening fully) we fouled the bottom cill. Then the water came back - thrust us astern, then dragged us forward making some frightful screeching noises as we were forcibly dragged over some underwater item. Wooden bottoms at the time, and in none to brilliant condition. I kept a good watch for water in the bilge from that point on. Big sigh of relief on reaching Castlefield and that's a fact! It was a fascinating sight to see that much dereliction and former industrial buildings, and following the towpath had its own challenges - "where now?" Black and white shots might as well have been in colour - you'd not have noticed the difference . . . !

A minor point Mike C, but 'twas I that stated: "What thickness are ice plates as fitted to wooden boats? For my money, I would not have risked damaging a wooden boat for the sake of getting to an event - especially as we nowadays consider such vessels as so historically 'important'. When working they would go as far as they could, but few if any of Clayton's boats would be owner operated - they were under orders, and likely such orders as to not risk the craft for the sake of a delivery." It appeared that Laurence had written such, as the opening (quote) was missing. I know - I don't get out enough . . . Edited to add: 14swg - that's barely more than 2mm thick. Supported by good planks it might seem enough, and having cut 1920's Oak fence posts up for firewood with a bowsaw, I can tell you it can be iron hard, but they've lived in free air. Down where it's damp it's another story and water line is where most rot will occur. The Swan is doing just what those Arctic Ice breakers do, rise above and crush. The boat is getting it edge on, all along the one area. Thin ice can rip out Oakum and cut like a bread knife. Such Ice plates as fitted to wooden boats are fine for thin ice, but if I had a restored wooden boat it would be pretty much tucked away from possible harm.