Derek R.
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Posts posted by Derek R.
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I have put a photo on My Gallery site. Any of you experts like to suggest where it was painted?
Nice pics in the album. No expert, but the can has a Tooley style about it, but there's a simplicity that suggests owner boater rather than a regular painter. Could be totally wrong though.
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That seems the most logical way of using the locks, using the 'gap' that leads to a side pond as if it were a pound - no different from 'normal' lock working. No side paddles to operate as per S. GU. (do any still work?). Last time I was able to use Maffers was in the early eighties.
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I'm not sure I would put too much emphasis on any notches. I've one on the boat that I've notched in much the same way - and put the boat name on it.
The little six inch I have has a series of punch marks on the shank; five on the web; and one either side of a similar notch on each square edge:
(Must have been a domino player?)
The one I have that is most like Dave's also has notches - easy to do with a rat tailed file though I haven't, and wouldn't touch these:
Possibly a copy of a respected maker, I don't know, and both have flared handle tips too - as have the galvy and the bronze.
Whilst not wishing to deface or personalise them further, I don't think I would be past sleeving them discreetly and carefully so that a favoured one could be used. What better pleasure to be had than use them for their proper purpose.
Edit: Last one worth a look - Nothing special, save it's the one we had and used a lot with Yarmouth. Smooth handle with no flare to the end, 8 inch shank, 1.1/4" x 1.3/16" taper. Small enough to still use as is, at least on the S. GU.
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Number 11 = Big Woolwich BAINTON & BERKHAMPSTEAD
Er . . Ahem . . ahem - unless you discount the public toilet in the town car park, there's no 'p' in Berkhamsted!
(Though historically it has been spelt that way on occasion).
Edit: I see that may have been from Master Parrott's post - tch!
Talking of Berko, and limits of wide boats - I know we aren't, but Alan mentioned it - Alan Faulkner's 'Grand Junction Canal' book states that the improvement program instigated by the GJCC in 1929, Act obtained in 1931, and work commenced in 1932, involved widening of the Northern GU to take 100 ton barges to Brum. However, finances were withheld for the completion of adequate dredging and widening throughout - Gov. wouldn't pay - so wide boats could not pass in many places. The Grand Junction section had cills lowered to a depth of five foot six to allow 14' beam boats to Berkhamsted, and 12'6" beam to Brum. Hence the belief of Berkhamsted being the Northern limit for wide beam.
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(snip)
The only argument that convinces me about why they are separate locks without shared gates, is that it wasn't realised that the same water savings could be achieved by doing it Foxton style.
Alan
I think that's correct, it may simply be that the engineers had not thought of a better way, and installed a comparatively more complicated solution to water economy than that later developed at Foxton.
A solution made in haste perhaps, and now a long time curio.
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Can we have some pictures please? I have a soft spot for George & Mary as my great uncle was apprenticed at Steel Barrel in the 1920's and worked for them his entire working life.
There's a little picture of George towing on Roger Fuller's web site: http://www.spurstow.com/rogerfuller/historic/gucc.htm
When we came back from Braunston, Mary was tied as shown in Alan's shot, with George a little way further on.
Here's a collection of noses, Mary's included:
In the basin at Leigh, 1988. (And in good company).
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(snip)
If someone can tell me how to post a piccy on the reply page, I'll see if I can take some shots of my humble collection.
cheers,
Martin Fuller
To Martin and Dave, and anyone else come to that, there is a link to 'How to' within the forum:
http://www.angelfire.com/rnb/malcsworld/ph...stpictures.html
However, it's a few years old and some things change - page appearance mostly. I wrote to Dave in a PM but it seems to have evaporated, so I'll try again here.
First 'Google' for 'photo hosts', you'll get a fistful. I use photobucket - registration and usage is free, just put up with a few adverts scattered around.
Once an account is opened, click on 'my album', you can 'upload' pictures and videos into it by selecting one of four places to load from (default is 'my computer'), and clicking 'choose files'. This will open up a window from which you can browse for your desired picture file. Clicking on 'open' within that window will start the upload, this will take half a minute or more dependent on size and number of files uploaded.
Once uploaded, click on 'save and continue'. The pictures will now appear in your photobucket 'album', each with an array of codes beneath to choose from.
For including a picture in a post, left click on the IMG code. This will automatically copy the complete code to your clipboard.
Now go to the point in the message reply window where you want your picture to be displayed and right click for the drop down menu - then left click - 'paste'. The line of code will appear complete - no picture - but if you 'preview' your post, you will see it. That's it - job done. Lets see some windlasses!
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Derek,
The bronze one looks for the world to me like the small eyed equivalent of the big-eyed one I posted a picture of at post 13.
I think these were widely available in the 1970s, (although clearly most sold were galvanised cast iron).
What I can't explain is that clear arrow on it, which I've not seen before. It seems to be in the casting, rather than stamped in later ?
I still don't think it's genuinely old, although I could be wrong.
(snip)
Yes, the arrow seems cast in, a smaller version of yours, and probably contemporary. Bent too. Not a fan of non-ferrous winders.
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Blimey!
(snip)
A bit too pedantic for me, although I can't resist saying it's Startop's End, (with an apostrophe), not Startops End!
(Keep 'em coming, though!
)And if we're being correct, we ought to be pronouncing it as the indigenous locals did - "Starrupsend".
(stretching' the topic a bit ) -
(snip)
Bulls Bridge though not in the lay by
That's right - I read it was just around the corner - turn right from Paddington and tie on the towpath.
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Pedant's Corner.....
The White lion is at Startops End, not Marsworth.....
I bet three penn'uth of chips I could spit from one to the other . . .
Thinks: I might just have to cough up three old pennies for that!!
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Derek,
We are talking about the same spot here- along the concrete edged towpath from bridge 129 to 130. The Red Lion is at bridge 130 and I thought it was a better modern reference than The Ship (in which I suspect you may have had a pint whilst I was only able to buy an icecream!)
N
Blimey - not that old!! But I do remember getting ice creams there. Edit: I think the Red Lion is still rated the better of the two.
I think we should be very cautious about talking about "Recognised Tying-Up Places".. The right to moor exactly where you please, within reason has always been jealously guarded on the waterways..(snipped)
I will agree with that, but the first paragraph of the original post does refer to those places used during commercial boating days - a different time, and in many ways a different place. One that crops up in Jean Peters recollections is that of The Black Boy pub below Knowle. They must have tied between 69 & 70 near the winding hole, and taken a walk up Bakers Lane to the pub on Warwick Road.
Many of those regular stopping points are now either temporary or permanent moorings. Can't turn the clock back, though slowing its hands might be useful.
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Ricky (where?)
Maffers: Opposite the Red Lion
Leighton- towpath outside where Tesco is now?
Fenny - where exactly?
(snipped)
Ricky: above Batchworth lock towpath side.
Maffers: Sure you're not getting the Red Lion in Marsworth Village mixed up with the White Lion beside the cut at the bottom of the seven below bridge 132? Mind you, there are Rings along by The Ship Shop 'as was' (formerly PH), and across the bridge 130 and along a bit is the Red Lion.
Leighton: Yes, also back before the road bridge by the filled in entrance to Brantom's dock.
Fenny: Most likely below the lock - more room. But like Ricky, it might depend on which way you were headed.
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Also (off topic), I have never understood if Berkhamsted was the official Northern point for barge traffic, why the winding hole in Berkhamsted, (outside the station), is never recognised by BW, or most of the cruising guides. It's a proper 70 foot hole, just not marked on maps.
I'm sure there was wide boat traffic to points further North, and it's something I've read about recently - a mill near Wolverton perhaps, or sand barges from Linslade? Though Berkhamsted was recognised as a point beyond which wide traffic did not usually pass, I don't think it was ever 'official'.
There are several large rings opposite Croxley Common Moor just past Rickmansworth. They are half way between the Met Line underground bridge and Common Moor lock, on the tow path side. They are really big rings. Its now too shallow to moor there now due to the amount of railway related ballast dumped in the canal from the old sidings.They may well have been placed to tie barges loaded with Esparto Grass up from Brentford and awaiting their turn to unload. Mostly horse drawn, John Wilson who lives at Cassio, used to lead the horses along with his Father.
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I would hazard a guess that the so called 'brass' windlass is in fact bronze. I believe the tin content determines the colouration and strength, brass would be insufficient on its own for a windlass.
Most of mine that have come my way over the years, though I would hesitate to say any were 'Wheelock's', I am told they are characterised by a small clay pipe stamped into the shank, none of mine have that, though I know someone who has one, with the additional stamp of 'Trent & Mersey'.
All these have been fished out after prolonged submergence, and deep pitting (except the bronze & galvy).
In greater detail; These are small eye, measuring from the centre of the eye to centre handle - 8.1/2" shanks, eyes taper from 1" to 13/16" on the cast galvy, and 1" to 7/8" on the bronze. Don't know whose symbol the arrow is - anyone?
These three are all forged (I think) and all 8.1/2" shanks. Nearest is the most worn, and very 'rounded' on the outside: taper 1.1/4" to not much less, very worn.
Middle is a 'red' one, some faint traces of red paint in the rough handle: taper 1.3/8" to 1.5/16".
Furthest is crudely forged with a bent handle: taper same as 'rounded'.
Little and Large. Feeling strong? That's just 6" of shank on the little one. It's also peppered with dots and notches - bit of 'customising' by someone: taper 1.3/8" to 1.5/16"
The big one is full 11" in the shank and heavy. Most noticeable of course is GJCC stamped 14 times all over it (somebody must have got bored that day). I picked them out in a bit of Rustol for clarity: taper same as the little one.
Four more on the boat, one of them an 'orrible aluminium Dunton Double long shank - one for the Ladies. Got no weight in it, falls out my belt too easy, and if it fell in the cut I - I wouldn't look for it.
How many links in your gas bag clip chimney chain Dave?
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If I could remember exactly which bridge it was, I'd look in Nicholson's, to establish that the towpath does indeed change sides there. (Possibly Wynchnor Lock at Wynchnor Bridges, as the towpath changes side there in the way you might expect ??)
Looks like here: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=e...mp;t=h&z=19
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Interesting counter to the general all round palliness presented by Woolfit and Gayford though.
Interesting come back on that - I've been working through Jean Peters account of her training with Kit Gayford, available through the Narrow Boat magazine links page. It brings home the abject misery that can be a boaters lot - especially in bad weather, and going the 'Bottom Road' from Brum to Coventry. Plenty of character clashes en route too, along with some rather strange terminology. Some of the latter may well have come about through a combination of Optical Character Readers, and someone unfamiliar with boats, artefacts and the canal in general. I've been in touch with Bournemouth Libraries - the intermediary in the plot - to ascertain a possible contact for some 'ghost writing' - corrective in essence. Awaiting a reply.
Mention is made of forty foot shafts, and with regard to the Northern GU lock gates - connected by a wire system that opens both while pushing one - anyone heard of that?
Some degree of memory fudging may be present, but considering their comparatively small contribution to the transport effort as a whole, without these educated ladies literary input, much we know about today of life on the boats back then would very likely have been put to rest untold, and certainly unwritten.
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I don't think it's what I'd call a true worm drive, or not at least as I'd remember if from my (how sad!) Meccano days.
Most worm drives can not be reversed, I think - i.e. you can't turn the output and get the input to rotate.
I believe, (never done it myself of course
), that if you knock the "claw" off of a raised paddle, it will wind itself down in a fairly controlled way, with the shaft where you put your windlass rotating quite fast.If it were a true worm drive, I think you would be forced to wind it both ways.
No, the angle of entry for the driven spindle is in the wrong place for it to be worm drive - that would be offset almost at a tangent to the upright, and as Alan suggests, it would not transmit movement the other way well, placing high stresses on the worm and pinion.
The internals will more likely resemble a crown wheel of a differential. Turning the windlass turns the pinion engaged with the crown wheel at 90° (the crown wheel being set horizontally). The internal part of the crown wheel is hollow and cut with a gear which directly and permanently is engaged with a vertical spiral gear - which in itself will more likely resemble a coarse worm, - the bottom end of which has paddle attached. As the spiral gear is prevented from rotating with the crown wheel by some sort of pin and guide, turning the windlass raises the paddle, the lifted portion of the vertical shaft rising in the vertical tube - covered, to protect from the worst of the elements, and also from fingers and clothing. Some similar gear in exposed form can be seen on some Leeds and Liverpool locks. I fancy there is a damping mechanism of some sort to prevent the paddles from dropping harshly, though if it's not up to scratch they can drop heavily. It's nice when you knock the claw off and they fall smooth and steady, and if you've iron hands - ease the last few inches by gripping the rotating spindle (not to be tried at home). I think the ladies memories may perhaps be a little clouded as to some of the detail.
I wonder if the original spindle holding arrangement might not have been a pivoting claw, pivoting on the broken casting seen. Perhaps they caused problems solved by a simple claw on a chain.
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Yes, as mentioned, the first is a purchase point for a two to one reduction for horse draw craft, the second as guessed, a small vertical roller - the right hand bar at half height would lead a tow rope onto the roller. I'm guessing the towpath changed sides at that point having the uphill path beneath the right of the bridge arch not visible, and continuing on the other side above the lock. As the horse would have crossed on the bridge, the boat passing beneath would have had the line lifted off the looby as it passed under, to be reconnected from the lockside. Must admit that's a calculated guess, but seems most logical.
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Yes, Sonia was a trainee and met George Smith Boatman whom she married, later re-marrying Tom Rolt.
There's a good deal of information on Wartime Trainees here, including a contribution from Sonia Rolt:
http://www.btinternet.com/~doug.small/wtwomen.htm
A little more browsing has brought up this page from Narrow Boat magazine:
http://www.narrowboatmagazine.com/links.html
Scroll down to Idle Women, and you will find links to eight parts of the BBC's WW2 People's War contributed by Jean Peters. Very good.
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Wasn't Sonia Rolt something to do with this?
Yes, Sonia was a trainee and met George Smith Boatman whom she married, later re-marrying Tom Rolt.
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Hi Folks,
Just a quick note to say that there is now available a video of the 2008 rally available from only one place:
Watch in high quality here:
http://www.vimeo.com/1396542 (in HD if you want - you can turn it off by clicking the "HD is on" button).
Youtube have decided that my 11 minute 13 second video was too long for them - so s*d them!
Cheers,
Mike
Well, you can't catch them all, but here's one you missed
:-http://s80.photobucket.com/albums/j161/Deg...MayPICT0118.flv
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A little anecdote to add to the discussion about the Petter PD2.
The story goes that boats fitted with the PD2 never picked up rubbish on the propeller. The reason? The PD2, unlike all the other marine engines around at that time had a 2:1 reduction gearbox instead of the more common 3:1. When the prop is fouled, the boatman engages reverse gear to throw the rubbish off, but because of the reduction ratio the Petter's propeller was <always> turning that way, so it never picked up rubbish
I think I may have read this in a book on canals many years ago but I really have no idea now where it came from. And the gear ratios may be wrong too, so the whole story is open to correction, but it's a nice little bit of canal lore anyway.
Steve
I think the cork in the water outlet in frosty weather has more credibility. I always do that with my PD.
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Condolences to the family if any happen this way.
Never believe the press. To be first off the blocks with breaking news any picture/caption/line as long as it is vaguely relevant - will do. The BBC's track record is reliably poor in this respect. There's a picture of a Tower crane (Mail online), which it was not at Willowbridge, and later the accident described as being on a building site (BBC).
We came past the week after Braunston, and were told one of the two cranes was to be dismantled for removal due to track failure amongst possibly other things.
Willowbridge I'm sure will continue to lift out boats reliably in due course, and there are other yards that will provide a similar service. Winkwell and Cassio are two, though Winkwell's slipped into the cut a while back. No-one hurt, and there's a huge reinforced pad for craneage now, so unlikely to happen there again.
)
Can anyone identify...
in History & Heritage
Posted
These aren't teasers for the testing, as I genuinely don't know, or have forgotten the names.
The following were taken in the late eighties during some distance cruising and they may well have changed since then.
No1. Somewhere on the Shroppie IIRC
No2. I'm sure this was tied at Middlewich. Very straight, makers nameplate on the engine room
bulkhead, and recall the name 'Vesta', 'Vectis' or 'Venus', but can't remember. Distinctive rib over the cabin.
No3. Another Josher, this time somewhere on the Leeds and Liverpool.