Foggy66 Posted September 22 Report Share Posted September 22 Can anyone shed any light on this boat I spotted whilst out walking today https://share.icloud.com/photos/0e1t0ef0At0kuUOgROSP_vBFA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnetman Posted September 22 Report Share Posted September 22 Looks like a BCN hotholer or station boat. Matty was an operator of commercial narrow boats in Birmingham I believe . Your pictures : Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtB Posted September 22 Report Share Posted September 22 'Ot'oler seems more probable. Weren't the station boats all horse boats, not motors? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnetman Posted September 22 Report Share Posted September 22 I'm not sure but a lot of the station boats were cut and converted to motors later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Mack Posted September 22 Report Share Posted September 22 Its Ben. Built as a motor by Harris Brothers in 1934. Was in T&S Element's livery for a number of years, but has recently been painted in a version of Matty's livery (although my recollection is that the Matty boats were painted more of a primrose yellow than the bright yellow here). According to the link below Ben was never owned by Mattys, although it worked alongside their boats on the Oldbury phosphorous waste run for a while. https://hnbc.org.uk/boats/ben 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek R. Posted September 23 Report Share Posted September 23 Begging his pardon as I have forgotten whose image this is: Shades of fading yellow 'OXFORD No.1 with TYCHO behind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zenataomm Posted September 23 Report Share Posted September 23 Ben, Shaun (Late) & Jackie Lloyd's old boat. Lovely people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agg221 Posted September 23 Report Share Posted September 23 (edited) Recently bought after many years in the Smedleys' ownership. The cabin was very tatty and the new owner needed to get a quick coat of paint on it. He is well aware it was never a Matty's boat, but that was the quickest and easiest colour scheme to go for until he gets the cabin sorted out properly. Alec Edited September 23 by agg221 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zenataomm Posted September 24 Report Share Posted September 24 The Lloyds de-cabined Ben mid 80s. They ran a saw around at gunnel level, put her in a lock with scaffold poles through the windows, then emptied the lock. A mere week or two later she was loaded with scrap glass bound for a recycling plant in London. I remember Shaun saying she was stubbed at the base of the stem due to years of ramming the cill when loaded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan_fincher Posted September 25 Report Share Posted September 25 Am I correct in thinking this attended the Braunston show this year, (or have I invented that)? I feel sure I have seen it somewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Mack Posted September 25 Report Share Posted September 25 22 minutes ago, alan_fincher said: Am I correct in thinking this attended the Braunston show this year, (or have I invented that)? I feel sure I have seen it somewhere. Yes it did. But with the new paint job and the removal of the bow cabin I didn't immediately recognise it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morris Posted September 26 Report Share Posted September 26 Please forgive my ignorance and slightly off topic request but would someone be able to fill in the details regarding Alfred Matty's please, like the size of the company and when it was operational? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted September 26 Report Share Posted September 26 5 hours ago, Morris said: Please forgive my ignorance and slightly off topic request but would someone be able to fill in the details regarding Alfred Matty's please, like the size of the company and when it was operational? If you follow some of the links on this page it will start to put the picture together for you Alfred Matty & Sons Ltd, were Canal Carriers - Google Search Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heartland Posted September 26 Report Share Posted September 26 Matty's yard was at Coseley not far from the the Boat PH. His various craft were coloured yellow Some of the above images show the yard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted September 26 Report Share Posted September 26 5 minutes ago, Heartland said: Matty's yard was at Coseley not far from the the Boat PH. His various craft were coloured yellow Some of the above images show the yard. Must admit I always wondered what was ar the crane yard, it always looked a good spot for putting boats in the water, I didn't realise it use to be their yard 6 minutes ago, Heartland said: Matty's yard was at Coseley not far from the the Boat PH. His various craft were coloured yellow Some of the above images show the yard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave moore Posted September 26 Report Share Posted September 26 Boatbuilder Dave Harris was based there for some years as well. The site is now occupied by a crane hire company. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Brightley Posted September 26 Report Share Posted September 26 Alfred Matty & Sons Ltd is still technically an active company, with its directors being two members of the Proud family who are also directors of the crane hire firm Dewsbury and Proud. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ogwr Posted September 27 Report Share Posted September 27 Waltom's built their wooden hulled boats there in 60/70's Some for private owners and also Shropshire Union Cruisers (John Stothert) at Norbury. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junior Posted September 27 Report Share Posted September 27 At Dutton now braving the rain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted September 27 Report Share Posted September 27 11 minutes ago, junior said: At Dutton now braving the rain. They will be OK once in the tunnel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junior Posted September 27 Report Share Posted September 27 Be very wet in there today! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angelasoldman Posted September 28 Report Share Posted September 28 Marty's yard was in Biddings Lane Coseley now occupied by Dewsbury and Proud. Prior to that they were in Willenhall. Marty's boats were used in the Phosphorus waste contract for Albright and Wilson. Google 's hat lies beneath the rattlesnake lagoon' for more info - a fascinating read ! Matty's sorry. 'What lies beneath the rattlesnake lagoon' sorry Rattlechain lagoon - bloody predictive text ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted September 29 Report Share Posted September 29 (edited) On 22/09/2023 at 22:23, Foggy66 said: Can anyone shed any light on this boat I spotted whilst out walking today https://share.icloud.com/photos/0e1t0ef0At0kuUOgROSP_vBFA If you do Facebook this may interest you, an Matty boat in 1983 Facebook or Love the Birmingham Canal Navigations, clean it and cruise it!! | Facebook Edited September 29 by ditchcrawler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek R. Posted September 30 Report Share Posted September 30 Some cracking shots on that Facebook page. Can't believe the amount of azolla growing. Combatting azolla: https://www.cabi.org/projects/azolla-control/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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