Graham_Robinson

I've been trying for some years now to get some/any information on the holloware ( can ) makers particularly in Birmingham. Probably because it's a niche market and all the firms are long gone, I think Lesters were the last, for making cans that is there is virtually no record.

Dave is right you can get unpainted cans from BCM but they don't hold water, literally.

BW, remember them, were selling cans like these at the various boat rallies and festivals they attended back in the 80's. I purchased/ bartered this one off them when I was on the site and services team @ Glasson Dock in 1989. A Lesters can. They were OK'ish, tin gauge got thinner as the years progressed though. Wonder who did the painting for Waterways Dave?

And were on sale at the Braunston Historic Boat Rally

Ffs

“With a relative abundance of water in the north and west of England compared to the south and east, water transfers will form an important part of making England’s water supply resilient," she said.

Last part, episode 13 out now. Story line throughout the series a bit pants @ times and as I've said before the general charging about looked a bit dodgy, it's a wonder nobody hurt themselves but the camerawork and the shots of boats and places all those years ago more than makes up for that. All in all a real gem of a period piece. I thank you Major Dolby sir and your cat.

Up the arm over the weir and into the wood, fishponds ahead. Probably better walking it than attempting it by boat.

Talk about round the houses..

Pity that map from via Rose wasn't a higher res. And here's a pic. of Stretton Wharf courtesy of Rose Narrowboats. You could try exploring that loop.

You trying every arm on the North Oxford? 😄

You're in Brinklow.

Eppings are and always have been available from Marlene and Pete Dufficy. Brenmarl. Granted there may be lengthy waiting times, there have been family issues. Their son is now involved too. Whether you'll pay their prices is another matter but as previously mentioned it gets more difficult as each year passes by to find a reliable foundry in this country able to produce reasonably priced castings. Foundries have been hit hard by the soaring energy costs. What your idea of reasonably priced is, is also up for discussion. Seems a lot of folks on the cut think anything more than free is overpriced.

Dismissed by who I wonder? Now it's a timepiece. A look into a world some of us knew but know we'll never see the likes of again. So some of the continuity is up the spout, that's tv production for you, still the same today. And the charging round the boat and the locks definitely dodgy. I noticed Richard O'C nearly slip and fall in, in one clip. Wonder if eventually he did get a ducking? Perhaps we'll find out in future episodes if ever Major Dolbys cat ever gets back from mousing excercises. Right on cue I see episode 5 has arrived......

What's your timescale for posting the remaining episodes? Mr. impatient here. 😄

I don't remember it being in colour but there again we didn't have a colour tv in 1967!

That's a trip down memory lane. Many thanks.

You'll probably need to get in unfortunately, to really get to grips with it. Complete bastards to remove, seems to take for ever. Have you got a junior hacksaw and a supply of spare blades? Better than nothing. When shit like this happens, I'm just resigned to going in rather trying lean over the counter. Best of luck. Been there, done that.

Interesting reading Dave! The true, unabridged story of the Dunton windlass has been told many times and is quite likely floating about on t'internet somewhere. The Dunton 'S' ( short throw steel insert ) which only got as far as the design stage would probably never had hit the production line due to the ever increasing costs of manufacturing in this country. We'd probably have been pricing them @ upwards of £70 and that's NOT anything to do with polishing, that was the cheapest part of production and still is. Hope that helps. That's the Hatton, something of a mystery. Nick never ever mentioned that, possibly produced after the Dunton, the single eyed version appeared and before the double. We'll sadly never know now.

What do you mean again? It's been in the same ownership for at least 20 years......................

https://narrowboats.apolloduck.co.uk/boats-for-sale/narrow-boats/butty

I used to pass Ruislip quite regularly when I moored at Birdingbury. At the time it was owned by Rex Wain, does he still own it? Well Yes and No......................IIRC the boat is still in C&RTS' portfolio but Rex is the custodian seeing as how C&RT have probably forgotten all about it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We need no back up we're the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company Ltd..........................................................................and Happy New Year to you too..........................