Ray T

Just purchased 3 leisure batteries and one starter from here: https://advancedbatterysupplies.co.uk/ Very helpful with their recommendations with next day delivery.

Springy, thank you. It gives me an excuse to model Adder, perhaps? Cowburn and Cowper had some metal tanker boats but AIUI these boats had long tanks in the holds which carried carbon disulphide for Courtaulds.

https://www.canaljunction.com/heritage/craft/thomas_clayton.htm I have ordered a model NB kit from here: https://www.mobilemarinemodels.com/margaret--joy-49-c.asp I am considering modeling one of Claytons tanker boats. The hull is a GRP molding complete with rivets. Having consulted "Claytons of Oldbury" I am unsure if any of Claytons tankers were of metal construction. I know the majority were wood. Any help please?

@Teresa Eade Worth joining this site? https://www.facebook.com/groups/379770275469928

Eggs at Castleford. Abusing canal boaters is nothing new. When chatting to Mike H in the past he told me of: Being called water gypsies and other names. Stones were thrown at them. Spat upon. Fireworks thrown at them during Novembers. "Don't want dirty boaters in my shop, get out." Men piddling on them from bridges. A man "mooned" at Mike's mum at Norton Junction so his dad got his air rifle out and shot his ar$e.

Bit late to the party but we had vibration problems with a Lister LPWS3. This was solved by fitting side rail bearers. Do Isuzu make them for the 3 cylinder Isuzu 3KC1?

There were some "Box Boats," used to deliver coal. From CRT Archive: 972.0075 Bridgewater Canal box narrow boat with cabin moored in industrial area Description August 2021 - information received suggests that this is Box Boat Tug FRED built in 1943 for Manchester Collieries. Engine Gardner 2L2 now in FMC ALDER. (Web sub. no.71673) Reference code 972.0075

There is of course Gifford! Mrs. Mary Smith with Ben Smith by the 'oss and Jack Smith. Top and middle photo's, Graham Guest, top of Spon Lane Locks. Some of his photos are featured in the Robert Wilson series "Claytons of Oldbury" by Alan Faulkner. Middle photo believed to be 1964. Coal tar was a by product of the gas works many towns and cities had. Leamington Spa was one, the gas works being beside the G.U.

Just purely from observation on my part, during my travels for BT, the smaller telephone exchanges had Gardner or Lister engines as standby generators. These were regularly run and well maintained, with not a lot of hours on them. @cuthound will know more. I don’t know if any finished up in canal boats though.

Edward George Ward (Ted) Ward passed away 16th July 1997 age 55. His wife Elizabeth Ann Ward, 9th January 2016, age 69. Kenneth Ward passed away 31st March 1992 age 48. Vera was born 1943 but I have no further information. They are interred at Windmill Road, Cemetary, Longford, Coventry.

For those who don't know of Alice. Alice Lapworth.pdf

The historic brigade are on their way to The Port for the Easter gathering. They usually stop at Chester before being released in an orderly manner to the museum. I think the basin is used then.

Not boring at all.

With regard to "credible history" I do miss my meetings with Mike Humphris. He had a fabulous memory and was always willing to talk to me about the boating life, warts and all! Not the pastiche we get on TV now!

It was the effect of the railways which caused the operators and owner boatmen having to lower their charges to retain traffic and hence couldn't afford to keep a house on the land. The captain was the only one who was paid so his wife and children were "free" labour. Often boat families were quite large and children were "loaned" out to other boat owners who may not have had children. William Humphris "loaned" Jeanne, one of his daughters, to Jack and Rose Skinner but when she fell off the boat in a lock William blamed them and had his daughter back. I think the programme meant that older boys and girls were separated into the fore and aft cabins for obvious reasons, Not just children from other families.

@Graham_Robinson Graham, best photo's I have. At least Pontcysyllte was pronounced correctly. Unlike in the BBC "The Golden Age of Canals" Where the narrator pronounced it "The Pontyselect!"

I believe the term is "Weapon of opportunity." A "weapon of opportunity" (also known as an improvised weapon) is any object not normally associated as being a weapon, being used as a weapon out of necessity.

😁

There is of course Henry Grantham's Forget Me Not. http://nurser.co.uk/construction/boats-repaired-converted-/forget-me-not.html

I seem to recall there was an incident where two young girls were poisoned by carbon monoxide from a fire in the front cabin, a third survived. Thereafter the authorities banned stoves in the front cabin. I think this was in the 1930's, I stand correction.

From the book "Care on the Cut" by Dr. Sadler-Moore, Lorna York & Chris M Jones. Also I believe the word Cratch is derived from the French word crèche meaning amongst other things manger, where straw & hay were stored i.e. the bow area of horse boats. The fitting which supports the top plank is as far as I am aware a deck board as it sits on the deck beam Although to compound the issue Edward Paget-Tomlinson refers to it as a Cratch. From here: Historic Narrow Boat Features - The Inland Waterways Association 12. CRATCH BOARDS The ‘cratch’ is the name given to the area at the front of a narrow boat’s hold, protected by a ‘cratch board’ (also known as a ‘deck board’). The shape is triangular with the top of the triangle cut off. Often highly decorated, it supports the top planks and protects the cargo.