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Model historic working boat


Tom6239

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Don't normally watch Antiques Road show but a lovely model butty on tonight's edition. Thought to have been obtained from a working boatman in the 1950's Valued at £3000 - £5000. Mind you I would have also liked to have owned George Harrison's guitar in the same edition valued at £400,000! Can be seen on Iplayer, search for the Battle Abbey edition

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Edited by Tim Lewis
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4 minutes ago, Tim Lewis said:

Don't normally watch Antiques Road show but a lovely model butty on tonight's edition. Thought to have been obtained from a working boatman in the 1950's Valued at £3000 - £5000. 

Not trying to be funny, but you can get a full size 1950's butty for less than that.

 

'Tis a pretty model though!

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55 minutes ago, TheBiscuits said:

Not trying to be funny, but you can get a full size 1950's butty for less than that.

Which full size 1950s butty can you buy for less than that, then?

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4 minutes ago, alan_fincher said:

Which full size 1950s butty can you buy for less than that, then?

5635097_437bc609_1024x1024.jpg

 

There may have been a touch of poetic licence in that, because I suppose the ones that were not classed at firewood are now classed as hazards to navigation.  I certainly don't know of any floating ones!

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17 minutes ago, TheBiscuits said:

5635097_437bc609_1024x1024.jpg

 

There may have been a touch of poetic licence in that, because I suppose the ones that were not classed at firewood are now classed as hazards to navigation.  I certainly don't know of any floating ones!

Is that one floating again?? Last 2 times I have been down that way it's been on the bottom.

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20 hours ago, Tim Lewis said:

Don't normally watch Antiques Road show but a lovely model butty on tonight's edition. Thought to have been obtained from a working boatman in the 1950's Valued at £3000 - £5000. Mind you I would have also liked to have owned George Harrison's guitar in the same edition valued at £400,000! Can be seen on Iplayer, search for the Battle Abbey edition

I don't think that was built by a boatman - whilst the hull proportions were often awry they were sticklers for working details right and there's so much wrong with that - t stud on the bow, deckboard/cratch, mast in the wrong place, pigeon box on a butty, garish paintwork etc.

 

Methinks it was built by someone who'd seen more Rosie & Jim than Jam 'ole.

 

 

Edited by Rose Narrowboats
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I would dearly love to hear what the 'specialist' said about this piece. Clearly it was made with much love and must have given the maker hours of enjoyment in creating something almost mythical, rather like one of Emett's machines - everything there including the kitchen sink regardless of accuracy and practicality.

 

But valued at how much??? That was never built by any boatman, unless he was Vietnamese. It's interesting, and the detailed painting has been done with an eye to what has been seen probably, but a collection of mismatched memories aided and abetted by images. Even so, it does have an element of charm in a simplistic way. More like something made up to satisfy a child than any serious representation of a working boat, complete with boatman and cargo. But as value goes - £40 - £50?

 

 

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I can't find any Springer's Museum, or even a Springers Musem.

 

I did see the program, and I thought I was being generous at saying £300 -£400.

Mind you I wouldn't have paid even that much, it's the kind of thing that would taint history in another 200 years.  I can't help whistling the Thomas the Tank Engine theme when looking at it.

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It may lack verisimilitude - isn't it too short, for a start? - but the amount of painstaking detailing which has gone into its creation is awe-inspiring. It makes me feel tired just thinking about how long it must have taken.

Edited by Athy
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2 hours ago, Athy said:

It may lack verisimilitude - isn't it too short, for a start? - but the amount of painstaking detailing which has gone into its creation is awe-inspiring. It makes me feel tired just thinking about how long it must have taken.

The owner of the model did point out that it was short given it's scale

Edited by Tim Lewis
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4 hours ago, Athy said:

It may lack verisimilitude - isn't it too short, for a start? - but the amount of painstaking detailing which has gone into its creation is awe-inspiring. It makes me feel tired just thinking about how long it must have taken.

..... to get it so wrong, even ignoring the length.

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4 hours ago, Athy said:

Cor, wotta cynic!

I guess what nibbles at my ankles is when somebody steps up as an expert (as the woman on the program did) telling us the history of Butty Boats and Steamers and praising its accuracy in all matters of decoration and shape.  Suggesting it would be interesting to research the lettering and knowledgeably telling us that the reason its a bit short is because the "Boatman" who made it wouldn't have had much room in his cabin to put it is in my mind twaddle of the highest degree.

 

?

Edited by zenataomm
I was distracted by a plain chocolate digestive
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24 minutes ago, zenataomm said:

I guess what nibbles at my ankles is when somebody steps up as an expert (as the woman on the program did) telling us the history of Butty Boats and Steamers and praising its accuracy in all matters of decoration and shape.  Suggesting it would be interesting to research the lettering and knowledgeably telling us that the reason its a bit short is because the "Boatman" who made it wouldn't have had much room in his cabin to put it is in my mind twaddle of the highest degree.

 

?

There's something in what you say, but I still admire the skill and patience which went into the creation of all its little bits and pieces. Think of it as (in model railway parlance) a freelance model.

Edited by Athy
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1 hour ago, Athy said:

There's something in what you say, but I still admire the skill and patience which went into the creation of all its little bits and pieces. Think of it as (in model railway parlance) a freelance model.

I'd admire the skill and patience a lot more if it had been accompanied by research.

 

To use your. analogy, I suggest the design of the free lance model would have to be as follows:

 

Fitted with a brass safety valve and bonnet and painted maroon, but with sunshine style "N E"  lettering, have Walchaerts valve gear on one side, Stephenson on the other, and Gresley for the middle cylinder, be a 4-6-4 (numbered 111 of course) with square box pok wheels and a diesel filler instead of safety valves. Not to mention the brake van for a tender, buckeye coupler and cow catcher to finish of this charming british model from the WW2 era - and it would be ripped to bits on any model railway forum I know of, but they'd probably like the boat!

 

Right, off to do a spot of scratch building ?

 

Anyone know where I can buy a copper capped triple chimney in 4mm scale?

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1 hour ago, Rose Narrowboats said:

 

 

Right, off to do a spot of scratch building ?

 

Anyone know where I can buy a copper capped triple chimney in 4mm scale?

Buy 3 of these and with a bit of fettling..............

 

https://www.ebay.ie/itm/TRIANG-HORNBY-OO-GAUGE-1-x-COPPER-CHIMNEY-CAP-GWR-BR-KING-CLASS/261181314054

Capture.JPG

 

 

Edited by Ray T
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14 hours ago, zenataomm said:

" . . telling us the history of Butty Boats and Steamers and praising its accuracy in all matters of decoration and shape.  Suggesting it would be interesting to research the lettering and knowledgeably telling us that the reason its a bit short is because the "Boatman" who made it wouldn't have had much room in his cabin . . . "

The mind boggles! But it is the BBC, they'll swallow anything and regurgitate it as the truth. They don't do research and they don't address complaints.

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