What is this?

[Speedwheel]

I've had this sat in the shed for quite some time and it was sat in my mother shed for a good 30+ years before that.

 

It looks like a watering can (it possibly is) but I have a vague recollection that some said it was something railway related.

 

I have no idea, so does anyone have any thoughts?

 

It has a "2" on the top and "LTE" on the side.

 

Thanks

 

[alan_fincher]

Don't think so, but a bit like used for filling bus radiators? Normally spout would turn down more at end I think?

[carlt]

If "LTE" is London Transport Executive you may well be right.

 

I recall something similar discussed, possibly here, but as I've had a rare glass of cider thememory isn't up to full speed.

[OldGoldy]

If "LTE" is London Transport Executive you may well be right.

 

I recall something similar discussed, possibly here, but as I've had a rare glass of cider thememory isn't up to full speed.

 

 

My thoughts, too.

 

The "2" will surely be gallons, as on my watering can here at home

[boathunter]

I've got one of those, just the same except mine doesn't have any lettering.

[Bill]

I've got one of those, just the same except mine doesn't have any lettering.

 

A friend of mine had one of those. He said it was an oil filling can for use on the buses (he used to work as a London bus driver). Can't remember his having any lettering either.

[antarmike]

A friend of mine had one of those. He said it was an oil filling can for use on the buses (he used to work as a London bus driver). Can't remember his having any lettering either.

Water not oil, There was one similar always under the water tap at London Transport's/ London Country's Garage in Tring, I often saw drivers topping up from it.

 

 

The Tap was right beside the road, in front of the office. The can may be seen under the tap which is partially hidden behind the balding gent, the can being just to his right. He is actually standing on the pavement of Western Road. Though it was the unpressurised AEC Regent III's resting in the garage that where more likely to need topping up than this pressurised AEC Merlin/Strachan XMB15. I am surprised the can was never stolen.

Edited December 29, 2012 by antarmike

[Speedwheel]

Many thanks one and all. Seems to be a general consensus there.

[antarmike]

Still being sold in the early seventies (although slightly different design in the tipping handle design), by Buck and Hickman as "Boiler Fillers" Steam engines had a conveniently placed 2" B.S.P. plug that could be removed to pour water into a drained down boiler. As steam traction came to an end it appears the same useful Galvanised filling can was still available under the old name whilst now being used to fill internal combustion engine radiators.

 

 

A bargain at £1.17 in their 1971/72 catalogue

 

There were two LTE's the first LTE operated between 1948-1962 when On 1 January 1948, under the provisions of the Transport Act 1947 the London Passenger Transport Board was nationalised and renamed the London Transport Executive.

 

I note that from 1948 this LTE started work on the electrification of those parts of the underground network that were still steam operated as soon as they came into existence.

 

On the Central line steam locomotives were still operating between Greenford and West Ruislip in the west and between Leytonstone and Ongar in the east. Electrification to West Ruislip was completed in 1948, leading to the start of passenger trains which did not require locomotive changes on 21 November of that year. On the same day electrification round the "Fairlop loop" in the east was completed. And from 25 September 1949 electric tube trains were in operation between Loughton and Epping. This left a steam shuttle service operating between Epping and Ongar which was not electrified until 18 November 1957. Steam locomotives were fully withdrawn from the Underground network on 9 September 1961. I suppose it is just conceivable that the LTE commissioned new Boiler Fillers with their initials on even though they were working hard to replace steam.

 

This seems unlikely, I reckon this is for filling radiators. (Farmer might fill a traction engine with a can, but surely a steam shed would have hoses!)

 

If radiator filling is the use of this can then the second LTE, again standing for The 'London Transport Executive , but this time the title of the arm of the Greater London Council that ran public transport in London between 1970 and 1984, was a likely candidate for buying these to top up bus radiators. The second LTE was a totally separate organisation to the first.

Edited December 29, 2012 by antarmike

[Chris Pink]

And 94p for a large galvanised bucket. Two please.

[ChimneyChain]

And 94p for a large galvanised bucket. Two please.

 

Do you know B&Q do an orange bucket for 99p

[bizzard]

Also commonly seen years ago stood on garage forecourts petrol pump islands for motorists to top up their radiators.

[Bob the welder]

I've had this sat in the shed for quite some time and it was sat in my mother shed for a good 30+ years before that.

 

It looks like a watering can (it possibly is) but I have a vague recollection that some said it was something railway related.

 

I have no idea, so does anyone have any thoughts?

 

It has a "2" on the top and "LTE" on the side.

 

Thanks

 

hot tar for felt roofing .bob

[antarmike]

hot tar for felt roofing .bob

Amazing how there is no tar staining inside though isn't it!

If you look at my catalogue page I posted you will see to the right of the "Boiler Filler" what a hot tar bucket looks like and that is nothing like this!

 

(The tar will cool and solidify in the narrow spout, that is why a Tar Bucket has an open jug like form, Bitumen is put into the bucket in solid blocks, that is why a tar bucket has a completely open top. This is half covered, how can you put big lumps of solid material inside this to melt?)

Edited December 29, 2012 by antarmike

[Chasbo]

And 94p for a large galvanised bucket. Two please.

No such thing as 94p in those days. It would have been £-s-d.

CB

[GUMPY]

No such thing as 94p in those days. It would have been £-s-d.

CB

15th feb 1971 was D day

Guess you weren't around then

[Chasbo]

15th feb 1971 was D day

Guess you weren't around then

I was around then and teaching kids in Liverpool how to convert from one to the other. A nightmare!

CB

[antarmike]

No such thing as 94p in those days. It would have been £-s-d.

CB

 

The page is from the 1971/72 catalogue of Buck and Hickman and if you look at it you can clearly see it is in Pounds and New Pence.

 

Dual pricing for some items was in place in 1970, high denomination Decimal postage stamps were issued in 17th June 1970. British Railways and London Transport went decimal the day before the rest of the country on the 14th February 1971 but all other bus companies did not go metric until Sunday 21st February. Old money could be offered in payment after 15th February, but none was given out in change. On 31 August 1971, the Old penny and the Old threepence had become very rare and the last were officially withdrawn from circulation, ending the transition period. In reality there were several D Days. However the price of the large bucket in this catalogue was 94 New Pence.

Edited December 30, 2012 by antarmike

[matty40s]

The page is from the 1971/72 catalogue of Buck and Hickman and if you look at it you can clearly see it is in Pounds and New Pence.

 

 

mike, you forget Liverpool was slightly behind, went metric in 73, discovered other music in 75 , everyone elses alloy wheels in 88, and shell suits in 91 and hasn't discovered any fashion trend since.

[antarmike]

mike, you forget Liverpool was slightly behind, went metric in 73, discovered other music in 75 , everyone elses alloy wheels in 88, and shell suits in 91 and hasn't discovered any fashion trend since.

and the Queen's English never made it there either.

[Chasbo]

The page is from the 1971/72 catalogue of Buck and Hickman and if you look at it you can clearly see it is in Pounds and New Pence.

 

The advert looked to me like something from the 1950s or earlier. I presumed it was from some foreign country as it does not actually say what the currency is.

 

You are right about Liverpool though! No, seriously, it is a great place (but not to try teaching).

 

CB

[Derek R.]

Spot on Mike. That's George Prentice driving XMB 15 (later re-numbered MBS 15 and known as the 'Yellow Peril' for it's fondness for breaking down), pulling out for Highfield on another of his regular runs back through Tring to the Station, and on certain runs on to Aldbury.

 

The can's cranked spout helped stop spilling water over the bonnet and yourself. Mostly used on the RT's and RF's as they were non-pressurised and some were thirsty. The two RT's seen at the bottom of the ramp are red'uns - used as staff buses only to pick up staff for Aldenham.

 

 

It's me . . .

 

At the start of a late turn - Tring - Aylesbury - Chelsham via London, Victoria - Tring.

 

[antarmike]

The advert looked to me like something from the 1950s or earlier. I presumed it was from some foreign country as it does not actually say what the currency is.

 

You are right about Liverpool though! No, seriously, it is a great place (but not to try teaching).

 

CB

The catalogue page I posted says Buck and Hickman, a very famous British engineering supplier with (then) depots in London Glasgow Birmingham Manchester Bristol and Watford. Their only depot in a foreign country in 1971/72 was Dublin, (run by a separate company Messrs Booth, Buck and Hickman Ltd.)

 

My original post had this under the illustration

Quote "A bargain at £1.17 in their 1971/72 catalogue". (I would have thought that covered all bases?)

 

Buck and Hickman sell/ sold their own tools under the name "Roebuck". Their older "Roebuck" tool are now collectors items"

 

Buck and Hickman now have 28 Depots throughout the U.K.

 

Buck&Hickman

Edited December 30, 2012 by antarmike