Derek R.

That's a pew, see 'em in Churches. Big high backed ones - usually without a box storage - were to be found in old pubs and expensive houses, depicted in oil paintings beside open fires and red coated old gits smoking long clay pipes (Churchwardens?). The solid high back kept the draught from the back as you soaked up the radiated heat. Settles, are long backless benches used to sit at long tables. Tea cakes - toast and butter please . . . Not Crumpets, not Muffins - Teacakes. Soft, flat, round, bread-like. Muffins are denser and thicker, crumpets are full of holes with a flat bottom. There's a firm bakes square ones - right good they are! Derek

Aah! Now that's a specific type of sofa, all leather and buttoned.

There's an online Bradshaw's available HERE, but precious few lock names are given. Derek

Settee for me - Norf Lunnun. Sofa's a bit Kensington dontchya'now! When the settee folded out into a bed, it became a 'put-u-up'. First boat - paddle boats on the Ally Pally pond. Tanner for half hour. (Like the floating dodgems - water and electrics - now let me guess . . .)

No, but we had a teacher who had some real big'uns on the back of his neck . . . Chewing small bits of blotting paper and shooting them through Biro tubes at the swots in front. Does this come under 'History' or 'Heritage'? Aah! Dixon - a proper copper! Oooh! And hearing Ravels Bolero for the first time, and driving my parents mad whistling it incessently thereafter . . .

You bath every day???? Got any skin left? You can rub dirt off after a couple of weeks, and there's always 'Old Spice'. "Come 'ere - look at that tide mark round your neck!!" That's me Mum. Doris Speed? Someone said her name was Annie Walker . . . First meal I cooked my present wife. She does all the cooking now (good move I reckon).

No one has mentioned 'Mrs. Dale's Diary'! "I'm worried about Jim . . ." What was the Mother-in-law's cats name - Bosun or Captain? I remember when Megs Jenkins took over the part - Mr's dale that is, not the cat (the bar maid in 'Painted Boats'). And in the Archer's - Mrs. 'P's pony that pulled her trap - 'Beauty' or 'Cherry'? Dan & Doris (that's where I got 'Doris' from, and not 'Annie' Walker), and Walter Gabriel. I listened avidly - primarily as a delaying tactic to put off having to start 'homework'! Then to bed in tears as I still could not work out quadratic equations, and my parents had never heard of them. Their world was one of hand tools and steering wheel; the floor mop and the gas stove. Derek

Have just re-read 'The Amateur Boatwoman', and Eily Gayford writes that Albert and Cissie Sibley had a full size wireless set by the side bed in the Butty Purley in 1942. But there is no mention of ever listening to the radio, nor of any power arrangement. Entertainment invariably was the Pictures and the Pub. Were they like Staffordshire china dogs - there for show! She did mention in passing that it was the transistor that brought radio widely to the Boatmans world later on. Derek Reynolds

Lor! Yes. The first episode of Coronation Street, Ena, Minnie Caldwell, and Martha Longhurst. Jack and Doris(?) at the Rover's, Elsie Tanner, Mr Swindley, Albert Tatlock, and Ken. (B&W). An organist at the Wurlitzer disappearing below the floor before the films. Half day closing. EVERYTHING shut on a Sunday (Save where I worked at the Zoo). Proper hats on Postmen and Bus crew. Royal Mail that didn't lose 5% of our items Twizzle - yes, but not whose toy he was. Life without a TV or a phone - comics, toys, a bike, and the park. Park Drive, State Express 555, my mates Dad's Passing Clouds, Sweet Afton, Black Sobranie, Tobacconists - with bowls of Nutty Flake and Old Shag in the window display. Getting beaten up in the street for being on anothers patch - no knives, and definitely no guns! Ben Truman, Bass, Mackeson, Black & Tan, Bitter topped. Lager - what's that - Gerry pistol? Francis Barnett New Imperial, OK Supreme. Dommie's, Bonnie's and Matchbox's - The Ace Cafe. Some legends have grown. But that was after the Janet & John books! Derek

Is there anyone left alive who will know? If there is, then it will need some concerted research to find them, and their memories may be dull or gone! Some of the ex-wartime trainees without reacquaintance with a cabin, will describe things somewhat differently from pure memory, than what they actually were. Which leaves conjecture: It has been assumed by some that the layout is identical to that of a narrow boat, Clearly the stove is in the same place, and with boat builders constructing what is in effect just another back cabin, the common layout would naturally be followed - just wider. The opportunity therein, is to make perhaps not just a wider side bed, but perhaps a fold down childs bunk above, and/or a set of cupboards at one end or the other of the cross bed. Apart from that, and given some of the extra width would be taken with a wider range shelf and table cupboard, I would think there was little other than what exists in a narrow boat - but more room. The alternative thought might be that a different layout be used - but from where does it draw its origins? The builders we know already built wide beam tugs of eight feet with living cabins aft and fore, and there seems to be little doubt that the traditional layout would have been used - because it works. With the stove established where it is in the wide boats, and the chimney positioned for clearance through bridgeholes and overheads, there is immediately one element that sets a rule for what follows, and what follows is yet again restricted by both the demands of two main beds, and a central gangway. Around these parameters, what else would there be left, but to copy and simply enlarge upon the established working layout with an additional bit of storage space. And what of the boat people? Would they have accepted something radically different from the familiar? I fancy that if such had been the case, there would have been spoken memory of it handed down more readily than if the layout had been tha same as any narrow boat. In familiarity there comes contempt, but also forgetfullness. That which we are familiar with and seems ever enduring, can often be erased from the memory after the demolition men have cleared the site, and the last Tram is burnt. But an eyesore, a large carbuncle of a building often sticks in the memory for its' difference - its 'out of the ordinary', and the fact that such buildings and artefacts - ugly and beautiful - are painted and photographed for their 'uniqueness' are we still today 'familiar' with such as the Crystal Palace, Euston Arch, the Foxton Inclined Plane - and the wierd box alongside Mile End lock (even if it was not there today). The factory that stood for the last fifty years beside Ashley Road in St Albans is now leveled, and because it was just another pile of gable ended windowless bricks - I cannot now remember what it looked like in any detail at all. I favour the idea of a second child bunk above the side bed - or perhaps a cupboard of sorts, and a shelf at the head of the cross bed with storage beneath, but still no answer to Laurence's question! Derek Reynolds.

I think I know what you mean! Seems that for the first 24 episodes he was just 'The Ranger', then he got given the name Smith, and the fans retro called him Smith thereafter. I couldn't remember that one. And pre-Supercar - 'Four Feather Falls'? I can still remember the signature tune (This is getting a bit sad) - and the quip advertising Farrow's tinned Peas: (Crow skwarks) "Waark - Where's my dinner" "Sorry mate - you're too late, the best peas went to Farrow's!" How about the Johnson's furniture polish tune? I did warn you . . .

Outside eating -vs- chimney smoke - the cafe umbrella tells the tale DENIAL. Who pays most - wins. Central Brum's heritage was lost decades ago. They seem to be tidying up the loose crumbs. What's the latest status on Valencia wharf? Derek

Not at all Richard - I am a radio nincumpoop! I did rather fancy a Roberts RT7 a little while back, and sadly fell for a 'non-working' example. Undaunted, I set about contacting radio forums and was led by the hand through diagnosis and possible repair. I suspected a transformer failure (it looked 'melted'), but was advised they were almost indestructable and continued changing resistors and capacitors on advice given. But it was dead - transformer failure according to an expert who eventually laid his hands on it "Never seen one is such a state". So my knowledge of radios has barely scratched the surface. During that period, I did become acquainted with the name Stenning, and viewed many radio museum sites. Fascinating pieces of equipment and many beauties - but at arms length from me! I have a hard time getting my head around HT and LT on a motorcycle ignition coil. Gerry Wells must have had quite some head on his shoulders! I do seem to remember comments made in print - possibly from Wartime ex-trainees - about radios. I'll have to go back and re-read a few books, but I am beginning to suspect (with the details on these threads) that such valve and mains radio sets were perhaps extremely rare (if at all) on working boats, and it was not until the advent of the battery powered transistor radio that the voices of the BBC penetrated a narrow boat cabin to any extent. That Pilot in 'The Bargee' can be viewed around the 5m 15secs. point, the little Periods 2m 30secs. 'The Bargee' DVD is on release from 15 March 2010, VHS still available on Amazon it's corny, and the continuity is all A about F, but huge fun. Painted Boats is also now on DVD. But despite there being such mains valve radios depicted on celluloid (and in studio shots), they may well be there as props to link a boat persons life to that of the land, and I do wonder if their use is as much as suspected. More first hand knowledge is needed to ascertain facts! Derek Reynolds.

Sound clip And the Ranger's name was . . . . ?

Rolls of 'caps' for 'cap' guns and little metal 'bombs' A length of pipe and a 'penny banger' My brother-in-law and his mates finding unexploded incendiaries and lobbing them at each other (true!), one started smoking so they kicked it into the canal (Regent's by Cumberland basin) where it went off under water! Ersatz cream served up by the school dinner ladies - thick sweet stuff - Oh! for the recipe!!

Can only suggest contacting the Horseboating Society, and perhaps The Pony Club There's also a Shetland Pony Club, but I doubt you will get much information on hames and such, most people don't think of them as 'working' animals. One of the answers on this forum may have some useful links HERE. Derek

Pay no notice - been a bit super grump lately. "Publicity leaflet"? Do tell - there's a Perdio shown on the coping by the old boy touching up his can, and that on Hemel's roof is difficult - not enough of it see, but it looks very much like a small Dansette - I had one the same colour - pale green, on-off roller switch on top with matching LW/MW the other end - only the Dansette had the tuning dial on the right. It could be a Perdio Piccadilly, they came in different colours with the dial on the left. Derek

The radio shown in 'The Bargee' film is apparently a Pilot 'Little Maestro', and details are available of that set - it runs on 68V. I cannot imagine five or more 12V batteries installed to run it, and for all we know it may be there as a prop only. Nice little set apparently DETAILS. Derek

It's a forum - a pedants playground, there's always something wrong in what someone else says, the way they say it, or why they say it. But it has to be said, so that yet more content can be chewed over by another member of the forum ad infinitum. My point was that this subject has another thread, wherein almost everything written here, has been previously written there - and more besides. I think it's time I retired to the back cabin and glued myself to the woodwork (or crawled back into it), made occasional forays to the engine'ole, to make any further comments into the galvy bucket with mahogany seat. Cheerio.

I can believe that! Mother-in-law lives in the Loire Valley and recently reported -10°C, though it fluctuates greatly and has been around 14°C today. Derek

I'm surprised this thread has been started separately from the other on just this same subject, and which seems to have run its course with some sort of conclusion ahead of this one, that being, that 90V and 120V radio accumulators were charged on the bank, and not from on-board electrics. Derek

You may well be correct - perhaps it was the chocolate bar. X-Ray machines in Dunn's outfitters that showed your feet and the nails in your shoes . . .

That was dreadful! Kensal Green Gas Works basin is now all filled in. Derek

Jubilee?? Jubbly - "L-u-vly, J-u-bbly - Luvly Jubbly Orange juice" So went the jingle, and frozen ones were the best! Three cornered cartons, held about half or third of a pint. Don't remember Cherry ones? D.

Carbide is still available, and used by the 'Gaslight' brigade on Vintage and Veteran motorcycle runs. In general they use no mantle, but are simply a jet of a specific size which exudes the gas produced by dripping water at a set rate onto Carbide pellets in a 'generator'. Some of the smaller ones for bicycles were self contained, the larger for motorcycles and maybe cars had generators supplying the gas through tubing (also still available). There is a very nice table lamp shown HERE, though I've never heard of such lamps being used on boats - the faithful wick lamp being simple and 'explosion' free! Many a fine set of whiskers have been sacrificed in lighting the lamps! Cannot see the burning arrangement on that table lamp, but suspect it to be a fan shaped jet. Derek Reynolds. PS Looking further into the Carbide table lamp description: It seems they were a stop-gap solution to fuel shortages post WW1, and utilised existing shades and brackets from a wick lamp. A look at Christer Carlsson's avatar shows what a carbide flame would look like. In this case one flame from two rightangled jets.