wandering snail Posted October 4, 2018 Report Share Posted October 4, 2018 A friend has a 50 year old narrowboat built, he has been told, by 'Parker', originally as a hire boat. He hasn't been able to find out anything about its build or history and I wondered if anyone on here could help? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard T Posted October 4, 2018 Report Share Posted October 4, 2018 CanalPlan gives 35 boats built by 'Parker' some are small launches others are steel narrowboats so I think there are two builders. One of the narrowboats gives a build date of 1991 and another 2005. Beyond this I cannot help. https://canalplan.org.uk/boats/boats.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Mack Posted October 4, 2018 Report Share Posted October 4, 2018 I seem to recall that Graham Parker built narrow boats at Norton Canes some years back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul H Posted October 4, 2018 Report Share Posted October 4, 2018 Graham Parker was based at Norton Canes alonside Malcolm Braine and Canal Transport Services and build mid range no nonsense boats. I think he was later associated with JD Boat Services iirc. He may have partnered with Neil Butlin at some stage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Brightley Posted October 4, 2018 Report Share Posted October 4, 2018 As the original post suggests, Graham Parker started building steel boats in the mid to late 1960's, and they were quite good quality for the standards of the time- when there were only a small number of companies building new steel boats. His boats always seem to be well regarded. I think most went to private owners but a handful might have served in hire fleets. If you post a photo I might be able to identify it from my collection of hire boat brochures. I'm sure Dave Moore will be along in a minute to give us more details of Graham's boatbuilding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wandering snail Posted October 4, 2018 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2018 Thanks for all these replies. Not sure this photo will help though! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek R. Posted October 4, 2018 Report Share Posted October 4, 2018 At Sea, that could pass for camouflage. On the canal . . . . Quite a pleasant sheer to the fore end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGoat Posted October 4, 2018 Report Share Posted October 4, 2018 1 hour ago, John Brightley said: As the original post suggests, Graham Parker started building steel boats in the mid to late 1960's, and they were quite good quality for the standards of the time- when there were only a small number of companies building new steel boats. His boats always seem to be well regarded. I think most went to private owners but a handful might have served in hire fleets. If you post a photo I might be able to identify it from my collection of hire boat brochures. I'm sure Dave Moore will be along in a minute to give us more details of Graham's boatbuilding. Graham built my hull, together with Neil Butlin, trading as 'Narrowcraft ' IIRC. They did me a lovely hull - except for that the bits that they said 'would not work' and for which I was very grateful (no b*** good saying I want this or that - if those who know won't work). I was going to wibly-wobly-boats of Walsall - Bob Allen (son od Les) but he never answered the 'phone... I still have the boat, she swims exactly as I wanted - pushes her up the Thames and glides quietly up the canals. Solid construction without being clumsy. I love our hull and an eternally grateful for being put in my place through my ignorance. AFAIK Graham spent some years at Norton Caines - but I did see an article in WW some years ago where he did some work in the potteries. Being based Darn Sarf, I never managed to have a long discussion with either Neil or Graham - a pity. Those were the days when boatbuilding was a craft industry. Each hull was an individual, but with the knowledge, skill and expertise of the builder. Sadly long gone. As a further tribute all my knowledge and love of the canal system, the people and boats were nurtured by the Milwards of Teddesley fame - without of them I would have stayed with horses.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liam Posted October 4, 2018 Report Share Posted October 4, 2018 A friend has a boat built by Graham Parker. You do see them advertised once in a blue moon on the Internet. They seem to have a shorter than average bows which is short and upswept. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glenn1 Posted April 30, 2019 Report Share Posted April 30, 2019 We have a Graham Parker boat which he originally built and fitted out for himself some 25 years ago at his workshop in Coven Heath. Very sturdy boat with steering via a funnel / tube around the propeller which provides excellent reverse steering. We still own the boat, Graham retired to a bungalow on an old coal wharf arm near Wolverhampton. Wonderful guy who produced great shells. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave moore Posted May 1, 2019 Report Share Posted May 1, 2019 I’ve just found this old thread. Neil Butlin finished his building days at Norton Canes, working with Graham Edgson and Tony Bate. In retirement he lived on site, I’m sorry to report his death in March. Another fine craftsman gone. I was in awe of his welding skills! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Eggleton Posted August 19, 2020 Report Share Posted August 19, 2020 Hi, I have a Graham Parker boat, 1961 as per one survey, 1966 as per another. Steel hull and superstructure, iv been searching for info and history, and confirmation of where it was launched, 1 survey says Norton Canes. Any more information or history would be very much appreciated. Many thanks On 04/10/2018 at 18:26, John Brightley said: As the original post suggests, Graham Parker started building steel boats in the mid to late 1960's, and they were quite good quality for the standards of the time- when there were only a small number of companies building new steel boats. His boats always seem to be well regarded. I think most went to private owners but a handful might have served in hire fleets. If you post a photo I might be able to identify it from my collection of hire boat brochures. I'm sure Dave Moore will be along in a minute to give us more details of Graham's boatbuilding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humphreys Posted July 19, 2021 Report Share Posted July 19, 2021 Jasmine was launched in 1964. Build at a boat builders in brownhills by my dad. I have been searching for her for years and I am so happy to see her still in one piece. If you would like more info I will be happy to help. I have loads of pictures etc… caron 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek R. Posted July 20, 2021 Report Share Posted July 20, 2021 I remember JASMINE, which for a while was at Aylesbury basin and owned by an affable fellow whose name I don't remember, around the early eighties. She had a big old fender wrapped around one end or the other. Went well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humphreys Posted July 20, 2021 Report Share Posted July 20, 2021 If anyone knows where she is now I would love to share her early days. The big fender was at the back. When I was little our job was to make sure the ropes were all rolled like a big flat Catherine wheel. Caron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ogwr Posted July 20, 2021 Report Share Posted July 20, 2021 I am pretty sure Graham Parker was working for Malcolm Braine in 1967. I am not sure of the exact year he started out on his own Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humphreys Posted July 20, 2021 Report Share Posted July 20, 2021 Jasmine was commissioned and built by my father at Yates boatyard in brownhills. It was launched in 1964. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humphreys Posted July 20, 2021 Report Share Posted July 20, 2021 Hi sorry got that slightly wrong just read the newspaper cutting from when she was launched. (I wasn’t born) Jasmine was built at my dads factory by my dad and launched at yates boat yard in Easter 1964. My mum has recently passed away so I now have the scrap books. If anyone can help me find her owner now I would love to share pictures of her build etc that I have. Thank you caron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ogwr Posted July 20, 2021 Report Share Posted July 20, 2021 6 minutes ago, Humphreys said: Jasmine was built at my dads factory by my dad and launched at yates boat yard in Easter 1964. My mum has recently passed away so I now have the scrap books. If anyone can help me find her owner now I would love to share pictures of her build etc that I have. Thank you caron Hi Caron, As Max Sinclair wrote I remember a "Jasmine" at the Stourbridge Rally in 1962 that was wooden, did he build the steel boat to replace it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humphreys Posted July 20, 2021 Report Share Posted July 20, 2021 Yes jasmine 1 was a wooden hull I have photos of her as well. Dad built Jasmine 2 as a steel hull to replace her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Split Pin Posted July 20, 2021 Report Share Posted July 20, 2021 Jasmine at the Stourbridge Rally Photo By Alan T Smith 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humphreys Posted July 20, 2021 Report Share Posted July 20, 2021 Lovely photo, my dad is at the tiller in white shirt. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGoat Posted July 20, 2021 Report Share Posted July 20, 2021 2 hours ago, Ogwr said: I am pretty sure Graham Parker was working for Malcolm Braine in 1967. I am not sure of the exact year he started out on his own FWIW - it was pre 1990, which was when we ordered out hull from him.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Lewis Posted July 20, 2021 Report Share Posted July 20, 2021 10 hours ago, Split Pin said: Jasmine at the Stourbridge Rally Photo By Alan T Smith Jasmine stars in this Pathe film : Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humphreys Posted July 21, 2021 Report Share Posted July 21, 2021 One of my pictures of jasmine ready for the water 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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