dave moore

Hi Steve and welcome to the forum. You have a lovely old can there, a proper job in my old eyes but I’ve no idea who the painter might have been. Painted in the early days of pleasure boating, it doesn’t reflect the work of dockyard painters of the period. I suspect it’s the work of a friend or fellow enthusiast, lovely somewhat naive work but a gem to be cherished for sentimental reasons, certainly. Hopefully another old greybeard will be able to shed more light. Thanks for sharing. Dave .

A strapping post is the upstand on th trailing end of the top gate on a narrow lock. It is there to provide a boater to apply a rope when working downhill, both closing the gate and bringing the boat to a halt. It follows the ethos of working boaters who , where feasible, allowed the boat and water to do the work. Properly done it is an efficient way of working, seldom used these days. The wider locks of the GU had stout bollards in appropriate positions to facilitate efficient working. I wouldn’t trust the skimpy concrete offerings of today, bollard wise to do the same job. I won’t add comments on the offside 3 posts fitted to many narrow locks some years ago….

I know……

Duck hatches? What about the coot flaps? Side doors for me.

To my eye, the prices are optimistic. Ron was indeed a fine painter but also a prolific one and there is no shortage of his output…. I’ve several examples among my historic collection. These days, there are folk around who can afford to pay dearly for historic painted ware, I remember Phil Speight telling me of bidding for a can by Frank Nurser, Ron’s mentor. He lost out and congratulated the new owner who told him that he would outbid anyone to acquire it. Hopefully these folk will seize the chance and pay the premium. I won’t be among the bidders. Perhaps my work will fetch monumental sums in future times….maybe…..

It’s certainly Ron Hough and from his earlier painting days. He was a very prolific painter and there’s no shortage of his work still around. The seller is a tad optimistic to my eye, but you never know. I’ve several of his pieces here at home as part of my historic collection.

I was told that one of the Lichfield and Hatherton chaps had taken Laurence’s archive. I hope so.

Ah, the one company providing signwriters paints and brushes that I’ve never dealt with. Thanks!!

Hi Tonka Ive never come across Johnstones scumble, it’s a new one to me. Trying to match new scumble to existing stuff isn’t an easy job and I normally tell customers to expect something a bit different. I suggest that you get the light oak stain. That comes in 50g bottles and I suggest using half of it to a litre of glaze to get something similar to Ratcliffes light oak. It will need thinning with white spirit before applying. I’m happy to speak to clarify further, message me for my number. Dave

Many thanks for the link to my paintbrush. They do have the clear scumble glaze in stock and Polyvine still sell the stainer to tint it down. I’ve just ordered 2 500ml tins ( no 1l in stock) , more than enough for the future graining jobs. All is not quite lost… yet!

I’ll check it out tomorrow and report back.

I wouldn’t consider anything under 14’, preferably 16’…hence the old term “ long shaft”. Brinklow Boat Services sometimes have these available through the good offices of Bernard Hales, owner of Enterprise.

The festival of turd polishers for me. Haven’t been for years, won’t go again.

The Admiralty class had a lever on a pivot for the throttle with a pawl attached that tucked into a set of teeth allowing engine speed to be set. Sorry this is vague, it’s many many years since I used one.

I’ve had similar issues with Polyvine scumble merging after combing. My solution was to leave it for a short while after brushing on then applying combs, flogger, knotting rubber etc. The original oil based stuff was much more accommodating. I’ve always varnished scumble when dry. Internally a coat is sufficient in the main, externally then several coats followed by regular re coating is a must.