Derek R.
-
Posts
4,943 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
1
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Gallery
Blogs
Store
Posts posted by Derek R.
-
-
Gonna show my ignorance now
! nothing new there then, I hear you say ! I tried a search for Jam Ole Run, zilch! what is it?I've watched the 3 video's and they are superb quality, many thanks for them, and saw the ceremony with the champers and roses and I assume it's to commemerate someone or something, but I've no idea what! so can someone please enlighten me.
Coal, was a regular cargo carried from the Midlands collieries to all parts of the canal system - common knowledge.
Just along the Paddington branch from Bulls Bridge junction stood the factory of Kearley & Tonges, they made Jam.
The entrance to their unloading dock was pretty tight, as were many, and were generally called 'holes' or 'oles.
As the factory made jam, Kearley & Tonges unloading dock became known as the Jam 'ole, though back in the days of regular carrying it was unlikely called 'The Jam'ole Run', that's just a modern decription, but the run to the jam'ole with coal is generally recognised as the last coal run done with long distance boats from Atherstone where they loaded, to Southall. In recognition of the labour and often speed at which the family crews worked their boats, a re-enactment of the run has been done for several yaers now, sometimes with old boatmen who did the run in earnest back in the sixties and before.
The factory is gone, the basin filled in, and new industrial units now stand there. The entrance is now level towpath, and the bridge that took the towpath over the basin entrance is now doing service taking the towpath over Cow Roast Marina entrance. But as befits the occasion, flowers are left at the site of the jam'ole whenever a re-enactment has been done in memory of all who worked the cut and lived one of the hardest lives, when many around were watching television inside four brick walls.
Many thanks to young Tom who organised this years run. Though how long it will continue is anyone's guess.
Derek
-
Thanks Mike, actually got my wife to watch part 3 this-morning instead of washing hair and faffing about with kids - I think she's wanting to do some boating again now.
Derek
-
Looks like he does post and packing world wide too.
-
Thanks for all the replies, the idea that the symbol maybe a compass rose (as opposed to a flower) is very interesting, and the suggestion that it may have come from sea going vessels to narrowboats is plausible: but.....as it is found in exactly the same form (just six points or petals) as that found on buildings and very rarely furniture, plus the fact that you do not need a compass on a canal (apologies to all of you who have bought sat nav's).....I'm struggling with that as an explanation.
Of course adding to the problem is explaining the symbol on buildings, as there are lots of theories about those. But if anyone else has any further ideas, I would be very glad to hear from you.
(snip)
The solution and answer to your question of why six points is simple.
If you take a compass and draw a circle, and without changing the distance between the point and pencil tip, place the point at any point on the circumference and draw an arc that bisects the circle at two points, then continue to repeat the process from each point that the arcs bisect the circle - you end up with a six petalled pattern.
It was the simplest type of pattern, easily remembered, without any need to change the dimensions once the circle radius had been chosen, and therefore most likely widely copied where any kind of circular 'flower like' pattern might be deemed suitable decoration without the need to be an artist, or a mathematician. Anyone could re-create it, without the need for literacy even.
Derek
-
My bathroom window has developed a leak. It is sealed to the cabin side with the balck tape type stuff, but the fitters have left a gap at the top
I have shot a bit of silicon in the gap which has effected a temorary cure, but what is the best way to reseal it properly? More black stuff? Silkaflex? Other?
Many thanks
Silicon - yeuch! Won't take paint, and the devil to get rid of. I think acetone might shift it.
Sikaflex 221 adhesive is the stuff. Dries to a hard rubbery consistency, can be sanded and painted over. Lasts well too. Available in black, brown, and white. About £12 a tube, but quality lasts - and does the job.
"Fitters" - is there a 'professional' story to this?
-
Oil based paints which includes most of the marine types take an age to dry compared with other types of finishes.
Oil based cures by oxidisation as in it reacts with the air. Even after the paint 'flashes off' it will remain relatively soft for a number of weeks until it hardens fully, so storing stuff on your roof would probally be best avoided for a while.
You can get additives to add to the paint to speed up the process but i'm totally sure how you go about it as i've got more experience with automotive acylic type finishes that suffer less from these problems.
I imagine Phil will elaborate furthur when he sees this thread.
I'm sure he will - but a h'aporth's worth - I've used International floor paint for gunnels and some deck work which dries quite quickly, in fact if you've got a large area - too quickly. It's oil based, turps/white spirit for cleaning, and you can always add some Owatrol oil to slow the drying down. Can be touch dry in ambient air around 68°F within an hour, but don't walk on it untill next day. Drawback is few colours; two shades of grey, tile red (good alternative to red oxide), a green or two, and black. It also dries to a satin finish, not gloss - so maybe out for you on both counts, but I thought it worth a mention.
Derek
-
If the negative is grounded then the only stray currents can be from wiring to the hull. This will erode the wire. Not a major problem.
If the positive is grounded, or if the system is isolated then stray current can leak from wiring to the hull (the wiring erodes) and also from the hull to the wiring. The hull erodes.
Fit two +ve side isolators. keep the -ve ones there but make sure they never get switched off. Alternatively just move the connections onto the sdame bolt at the back.
http://www.smartgauge.co.uk/whereiso.html
Gibbo
Many thanks to Gibbo and Chris W for putting me straight on that one. I've no AC anywhere, but will now check on which side I put the DC isolator. You can be sure It'll be changed pronto if it's on the neg side!
Cheers - Derek
-
(snip)
I was surprised to find on opening your link Derek, to find King Learie's film about the Narrow Boat Trust instead of Magic Lantern Shows. I've nearly finished editing my latest film about hull blacking for the NBT - and it will come with two different soundtracks as I've noticed that the films that have vintage soundtracks get twice as many hits as the films with contemporary soundtracks.
I popped that link in as it occurred to me there might have been a connection with the name 'Lear'. 'King Lear' would have sounded a little Shakespearian to have warranted adopting as a pseudonym, and 'Learie' sounded a bit more 'off-beat'. Seems I might be way 'off-track'!
-
In case anyone has not seen the report, and it's a sobering document, a 2.4MB pdf on the fatal fire on board Lindy Lou is here.
I doubt the unfortunate surviving owner of Lindy Lou will read this, but if it is drawn to his attention may I offer an apology for opening up something painful, and at the same time offer belated condolences.
It might also be noted, that existing regulations, nor any future regulations will stop every instance of catastrophe, they may even make no difference at all, but in the process, will create many difficulties and impossible requirements that are forced upon those whose desire is the retention of an historic vessel in use - one way or another - as it has been in use for perhaps a hundred years or more. In some instances such regulation by stranglehold will cause some to just give up on it.
Derek
-
-
I was at the meeting.
In answer to your question yes! There is no dispensation for historic boats. I ws reading through the copy of the draft I have and think historic installations fail on every point. So anyone wanting to restore a boat and fit a stove or anyone wanting to change a stove in an existing boat could have problems.
Not just historic boats - anyone with a back cabin.
Thanks Mark,
It might be of some note, and I quote from the pdf of the draft BS 8511:-
"As a code of practice, this British Standard takes the form of guidance and recommendations. It should not be quoted as if it were a specification and particular care should be taken to ensure that claims of compliance are not misleading."
The full pdf is
here but if you wish to comment, and propose any changes to the draft, you will need to access the version which allows you to do so on this one.It takes you to the BSI draft review system site and requires registration. Painless and free, an email will shortly after give you a password to access the draft. It's the same content as the pdf, but comment and proposal text boxes are there to fill in. Once submitted, each individual submission is emailed back to you for a record of your comment and proposal.
If you do not do it, BSI will consider you have no objection to the new standard.
Despite the quoted line from the standard above in italics, it will inevitably be used by insurance companies and waterways authorities to be the bench mark by which all regulations will be set. Without compliance to regulations set by the authorities, licences may be witheld. Did someone whisper/shout "Blackmail"? I'm sure I heard it.
Those who live their lives by the regulation book, will consider such regulations are a benefit to all in that they reduce the numbers of accidents that may take place, and that life, and the world is a safer place to be. I will not make comment on that as it would be little more than one persons opinion, but regulations are frequently drawn up by persons who have little or NO experience in the field they are regulating, perhaps even NO interest.
My late Father once said to me while still a small boy:- "Sometimes you need elbows to get to the table. But you can be sure - there's nothing for the dumb!"
Speak up boys and girls.
-
http://www.gisnet.com/notebook/comprose.php
Did some boats have an anchor motif on the top bend aswell? Or did I dream that?!
You didn't dream it. The small anchor was a trade mark of Nurser's yard at Braunston.
I don't think gisnet have the whole story, and I'll have to rake my brain cell for the reference, but I did read that the early Vikings used a primitive compass of sorts made of carved wood (didn't know wood was magnetic did you!). I seem to recall it used shadow from the Sun as one element. The interesting thing was, it had 32 points.
-
Draft copy of BS 8511, Code of practice for the installation of solid fuel fired heating and cooking appliances in recreational craft
http://drafts.bsigroup.com/?i=283
You will need to register to view it. (It's free)
Well, that was fun! Eighteen comments and proposals made so far. They really need to become more enlightened on the historic craft front. If anyone's up for looking at the BS EN documents 12340 & 12815, have £128 to hand for each. And - no I'm not.
One useful bit is you get an individual email returned to your inbox with every comment made, and the item reference number. Handy for remembering your individual piece of libel!
Derek
PS (Edit) I did find a lot of good stuff in there, particularly about the fitting of CO alarms, and some of the heat shields with air gaps behind, but it was marred by a lot of drivel too - who is going to put up a yellow triangle sign of "Warning! close appliance doors" right next to their fire they use every day and know like the back of their hand. And if they don't - haven't they got an instruction book, or been told what not to do etc?
Pass the doughnuts.
-
As the compass rose is a navigation aid I'd have thought the transfer would have been from sea going boats to inland.
And the Rose as in compass as well as flower has 32 petals and points. You may find it goes back and pre-dates Christian religions as do many things, but that has little to do with the appearance on boats - or does it?
-
Actually, to do your own gas work, on your own boat, there is (as yet!) still no requirement to hold any professional certification.
You just have to be "competent", but it's not tested or certified in any way.
Mind you, I have no idea about the BSS regs concerning the use of gas for lighting - that's one I'd have to go and look up!
You may be correct, as I have not checked the details. But when filling out insurance proposal forms questions such 'Has the gas installation been carried out by a CORGI approved fitter', it just might affect the outcome of obtaining cover if the answer is 'No'. But as I say, I have not checked the details. I fancy gas installation regs. will cover all gas appliances, after all, it's the same gas from the same source - though stranger things have happened.
Whilst still not having viewed the relative details of the proposed regs., I have had a look in depth at the Marine Accident Investigation Branch pdf report into the fatal fire on Lindy Lou.
The report cannot single out any one thing that was the prime cause of the conflagration (apart from the solid fuel stove being lit), but certainly involved both a plastic loud speaker near the flue pipe, a book placed within inches of the lit stove and leaning on the wooden steps (which incredibly had unburnt and uncharred parts of pages and spine - very clear photography), and the likelyhood of pyrolisis of combustible material behind the tiled fire surround.
It is this latter factor that will ensure that when Tycho's stove gets put back in, adequate measures will be taken to account for this feature!!
Derek
-
In case you hadn't noticed - it's over here.
-
The problem here is that the eventual price of safety could well be massive if everyone is forced to buy from a small range of approved suppliers and have stoves fitted by a small group of expensively-trained and certified fitters. It'll be like car insurance - you've got to have it, and all of the companies know it, so they can charge what they like and keep you waiting on the phone for hours and make you fill out ridiculous forms and there's absolutely nothing you can do about it.
One thing I've learned through the years is that someone wielding a certificate is just someone wielding a certificate. Passing the test only involves being good at passing the test. The classic example of this is the car driving test - most people now agree that the majority of learning normally occurs in the year after one passes one's test, because it is experience that really counts.
There are plenty of highly experienced DIY fitters out there who won't be able to afford the paperwork, so they'll be stopped from doing something they're good at, even though they're most likely twice as conscientous as someone who gets paid for the job.
I absolutely agree. The price of safety is that everyone stops living because it's just too dangerous. Our local pancake turning competition, along with an egg and spoon race had to be cancelled, as they were concerned about Health and Safety regulations being breached. Someone might have got hurt with a spoon, or a pan. Don't walk on the cracks - stay inside the marked areas - wear Hi-viz - helmet - harness - safety boots - display your certificates of competence regardless of age or experience - and if you cannot afford to - finance can be arranged. Ooops! There seems to be a problem in that area . . . Liquidate - sell up - cease trading - enter Job centre - lose home. Tell me it doesn't happen.
Back in 1979, a friend and I were looking at a Narrow boat to buy. It was a long way from home so the vendor suggested we slept aboard in the back cabin which he had just fitted out. As it was cold (inch and a half of ice across the cut) he said 'light the fire' - a new Classic on the range shelf by the doors. Needless to say we did, but matey had painted the stove, and not with heatproof paint. After the fumes had been wafted out the open doors and most of the paint had burnt off, it became the turn of the hardboard panelling behind the flue pipe ("It's alright, it's non-flammable Masonite"). It would have made good kindling. After dousing the flames with cut water, we wedged some tin plate into the expansive charred hole and settled down for a fairly sleepless night. No, we did not buy that one.
In the mid eighties, I fitted three gas lights in Yarmouth, with a secondary cock in the copper line a few inches from each lamp unit 'off' knob. I curved the bends gently, and fixed them with copper clips held with brass round headed screws. All joints were compression and olives sealed with Heldtite. I carried out a soap gas test on every one, and on every bottle of gas whenever changed. Polished, they were a joy to look at and to use. One boat surveyor saw them and pronounced them better than a professional fit. Today, I would not be allowed to do that, due to lack of any personal certification of 'competence'.
In the house I am living in, we had a new gas meter installed - by the professionals. It leaked. We complained and an inspector and fitter came out. A washer had been replaced the wrong way round. The leak is now less than before - but it still leaks. All CORGI registered and certified people, working under authorisation of the gas company. It's just a piece of paper. It's just a job. But if it's my home or my boat - I fix it - and to hell with regulations if I know I can do a better job. It's the same with water and electrics. I am capable and confident, taking any necessary precautions, work with recognised materials, but without a single piece of paper that says "Qualified".
Taking instruction on any aspect in life is a basic essential to perform any task correctly and completely. People who do not carry out this basic essential are walking disaster areas - hence a raft of regulations to compensate for their ignorance, ineptitude, and irresponsibilty. The tragedy is; that commonsense is shoved aside as unfit for use, as yet another set regulations are drafted - often cobbled from another existing set to try and meet similar standards for an entirely different set of applications, quote: - "The stove should be installed on a solid non combustible hearth, at least 125mm (approx 5") thick - this depth may include the thickness of any solid non combustible floor under the hearth." etc.
My Larbert will be refitted and commissioned by me on the same piece of tin-plate with the same tongue and groove beneath, and the same distance from bulkheads as it has been since 1936 - and it hasn't burnt down yet.
Perhaps these regulations do not apply to historic vessels, but not having yet read them yet I cannot say or comment on them. But how many loaves of bread can be baked and sold to the public from historic premises such as they did at the BCM many years ago? None (as far as I'm aware), regulations forbid it. Can I make and sell bird tables from my back yard shed? No, regulations forbid it. Can I drive a vehicle made after a certain date without wearing a constraining device, No, but if it's before that date - legally - it's OK. Does the age of the vehicle make me a safer driver? No, it's what's in my head, and through tuition, understanding and experience - applied in every case.
Today my surveyor who applauded my work twenty odd years ago would tell me: 'Sorry, it doesn't meet regulations - because you fitted them'.
You can try and fight this stuff, but there will always be some event, initiated by a fool, to produce a statistic, that creates a document that forms a regulation, that will stop you from doing something that you may have done all you life to date without any problems whatsoever. And you will blow a fuse. And rightly so.
To quote the 'sociable hermit':-
"The classic example of this is the car driving test - most people now agree that the majority of learning normally occurs in the year after one passes one's test, because it is experience that really counts."
An elderly couple driving their Ford Fiesta were killed, along with four teenagers in another car recently in a head on collision. I'm sure both drivers held the required document to say they had passed their driving test - but it did not stop a fatal accident. You cannot certify responsibilty, commonsense, or experience levels. These things are not gained with certificates - they are understood over time, applied with sure knowledge - and are not necessarily accompanied by pieces of paper.
You can tell the authorities this stuff, but they'll just shrug, and say - "We're bound by regulations".
But yes, they will be told.
Derek
-
You must have lived a fair way from a major seaport to have to make do with that.
Edit: Just noticed the missed out "S" as in HS---HSE.
Is that 'S' for Staines, as in Seaman? Not too far off the tunnel subject are we . . .
OK, I'll shut up.
-
How I remember reading Health and Efficiency as a lad
Tim
They had WORDS in them?
I only ever got to look at the covers through the window before being chased off.
(Cardboard box was luxury to me - lived under cats eye in't middle o'road . . .)
-
The shadows are in the wrong direction - the view is most likely looking west and taken near midday as the shadows are quite short.
Even without the shadows I'm not convinced, but I'd have to have a look in person at a few points.
I don't know why, but it looks like its at the top of a lock rather than the bottom. I wonder if the cameraman was standing on top of a balance beam? Could it be Cowley Lock? Not sure of historic buildings in that area.
edit: Just had a look on the map and it's not Cowley, besides the shadows don't match.
Cheers,
Mike
Oooer - shadows! If that was by the basins at Kensal Green horse and handler would be facing West and any shadows ought to be on the other side if at midday as the angle would appear to show.
As mike says, it's not Cowley - the toll house and cottage would be seen, along with the ramp leading to the road - and the Pub!
Something else that has just jumped out at me which I have completely missed before - look at the roof of the furthest building directly above a line from the horses back, that looks like a word in big letters. I may be mistaken but it seems to spell T O X I C and perhaps a second word - there seems to be a line along the bottom of the words as a support. I'm wondering if this is somewhere else on the system entirely - Midlands.
Derek
-
I don't know the boats, though the Lantern Slide theatre rings a bell.
Would this be connected to - http://tinyurl.com/apgk4h ?
Seem to recall a Rainbow Theatre in Wimbledon - land based of course.
Edit: No, scrubb that, it was the Polka Theatre I remember in SW19.
-
Top marks that man!
I was disappointed to see the gas works basin all filled in, we sold Yarmouth to a mooring in there - '92.
The Old Map site is good. More by accident, I hit map number 1 (1874) when shuffling around for those co-ordinates and whilst the buildings are not so developed, a fractionally clearer picture can be had for the location. I wasn't sure at first about the 'cheek', as the aerial photo shows a prominent one in the wrong place (wrong side of the basin entrance) but put that down to interim development, but everything else matches nigh on spot on. The municipal features of the architecture, the building layout, and the bridge. I think you have it Steve!
Four telegraph poles in length. How far apart were telegraph poles?? Bit far for a photo recce just now. Anyway, you'd only show Tesco's and a different bridge.
Excellent.
-
Something else I've just noticed about the photo is that the railings rise the closer they are to the photographer. I would say this reaffirms that the photographer is on slightly higher ground than the horse and boatman. Add to this the fact that a horse is available to have its photo taken and I would again want to suggest that there may well be a lock to the left with a boat in it descending (why else would the horse be stopped from working?).
(snip)
Steve
The railings do rise a little, though not in a substantial way. When taking my shot at Apsley, I took more than one to try and get the aspect right, and one was from standing on the balance beam!
Is he towing - or fetching the horse from a stable? More unknowns! The caption says "heavy horse", so it could be 16 hands, around five foot six inches. Our boatman would therefore be no dwarf, and in relationship to the level ground behind him, it would be apparent the camera was set up at a higher level than his head.
I need to speak with John down at Cassio.
-
This one is a tough one, I think - if those buildings survived, I'm sure somebody would know.
It's a good one this!
Interesting about the double telegraph poles too. In the shot above Fishery they are double, yet in the shot from Broadwater they are single. At some point in time, the main route for telegraphy must have changed from canalside, to railway side. A gradual change perhaps.
Strange the things we amuse ourselves with!
The book publishers PSL have an obsolete phone number within the dust jacket, and I have contacted Haynes, who took over some of their work but who say they had no hand in this one, so an 'explorative' letter is on its way to Cambridge. The acknowledgements within the book are many, and not linked to the individual pictures, so if no result turns up from the Cambridge address, I might be on a long haul. Amongst those acknowledged are; BWB; Tony Conder; Michael Ware; Hertfordshire record office; The Museum of English Rural Life; and the Victoria & Albert Museum to name a few!
! nothing new there then, I hear you say 
Leaky window
in Boat Building & Maintenance
Posted
All depends on what your 'black seal' is! If it's a complete window seal and the rest of it is hunky dory, I'd just 'repair' the missing bit, though as Sikaflex comes in standard tubes as used in caulking frames, you will have a lot left over, and to keep it needs to be kept tightly sealed from air contact as if not, the entire tube will cure and be useless.
If, on the other hand, you are up for removing the entire window with a view to replacing the 'black seal' with Sikaflex, it will be up to that task no problem. Sikaflex I find a wonderful substitute for rubber stops. Squeeze a little into a neat little circular blob where a door might open onto painted steelwork, and left to cure for a few days will be tough and resilient for many years. I've got deck lids and aluminium edging sealed down with it, and after Sun, rain, frost and snow, is as good as when applied, and let not a drop of water in.
One word of warning - it's very, very, messy stuff, and if you are not careful it will get everywhere! Rather than wipe off excess, leave it to cure fully, and sand off gently. Many caulking materials can be smoothed over with a finger-full of Swarfega, or similar slippery substance - i think I've heard washing up liquid being used but I've not experimented with that.