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Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2016 18:44:21 GMT
Roy has kindly given me permission to share his comments.
In the North West, Joseph A. Rank Ltd., expanding flour milling business resulted in two steel boat fleets being commissioned as British Isles Transport Co Ltd.
Six Dumb Boats in 1932 M30 to M35 to service his mills in Manchester and in 1933 seven Motor Boats A36 to A42 to supply his mills in Blackburn. Both fleets utilised the Grain Silo in Birkenhead Docks. Most of the M Boats were sold off in the mid 1950's, but the A Boats were sold off with worn out bottom hulls from 1946 to 1950. Five of them are still afloat to-day.
The photo below shows the A 40 working three handed in 1933 driving at the A 38 in the background between Chorley and Whittle Springs and yes that must have been the local 'tarzan' diving off the stern end.
A 40 was the last surviving B.I. on this run mid to late 1950, although some deliveries continued after with British Waterways boats. I have a Litherland Lift Bridge record of M/b Bacup dated 9th January 1951 carrying 46 tons from North Shore Mills Liverpool to Blackburn.
Dates of sale of each boat A 36 January 1949, A 37 December 1949, A38 January, 1948, A39 November 1949, A 40 November 1950, A 41 December 1946 and A 42 February 1949. Dates sold, supplied to me, courtesy of the late Clive Guthrie.
Roy Gibbons
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Post by kris on Oct 13, 2016 19:20:54 GMT
Roy certainly knows his stuff( he's the only person i miss from cwdf.) He told me some very interesting information about my boat A41, that when it was being built it was due to be a river class boat Lune, but rank wanted an Aclass quick so my boat became A41 and the next boat out became Lune. The funny thing is 80 odd years later the boats came together. I'm very good friends with the owners of Lune. Funny how life works.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2016 19:31:50 GMT
Roy said the B.I fleet didn't get much publicity, I thought it would be good to have another resource for his interesting info. It's always nice when you find out info on your boat, Phil filled in the blanks if our boats identity for which I am greatful- she had been in hire on the broads and could have been one of two boats. This summer I met another of her sister boats while on the Great Ouse. You have 30 years more history on us though  |
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Post by kris on Oct 13, 2016 19:36:52 GMT
Roy said the B.I fleet didn't get much publicity, I thought it would be good to have another resource for his interesting info. It's always nice when you find out info on your boat, Phil filled in the blanks if our boats identity for which I am greatful- she had been in hire on the broads and could have been one of two boats. This summer I met another of her sister boats while on the Great Ouse. You have 30 years more history on us though yes it's been fun meeting people who tell me stories about my boat. There's an ex boatman involved with Kennet who worked on a sister boat to mine and occasionally worked on mine. It's been a pleasure to make his aquaintence. Gazza if your communicating with Roy, he has some amazing photos of shortboats's, ask him if he minds you posting some on here and I'll post some more. |
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Post by JohnV on Oct 13, 2016 19:39:28 GMT
It's always nice when you find out info on your boat, It's a matter of some regret for me that I have so little information on the early and middle years of Sabina's history although I at least know she was originally built as a 100 ton dumb barge in 1929 and re-built and motorised as a 70 tonner in the early 30's but it is all a bit vague. I also know very little about the Ormelite's past although they are not a very common marque (the yoghurt pot) |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2016 19:40:25 GMT
Roy said the B.I fleet didn't get much publicity, I thought it would be good to have another resource for his interesting info. It's always nice when you find out info on your boat, Phil filled in the blanks if our boats identity for which I am greatful- she had been in hire on the broads and could have been one of two boats. This summer I met another of her sister boats while on the Great Ouse. You have 30 years more history on us though yes it's been fun meeting people who tell me stories about my boat. There's an ex boatman involved with Kennet who worked on a sister boat to mine and occasionally worked on mine. It's been a pleasure to make his aquaintence. Gazza if your communicating with Roy, he has some amazing photos of shortboats's, ask him if he minds you posting some on here and I'll post some more. Sounds proper that. I will give Roy a shout - he's had a look in on my profile, would be great to get some more stuff posted. |
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Post by kris on Oct 13, 2016 19:42:59 GMT
Tell him kris from A41 asked you to ask.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2016 19:47:33 GMT
It's a matter of some regret for me that I have so little information on the early and middle years of Sabina's history although I at least know she was originally built as a 100 ton dumb barge in 1929 and re-built and motorised as a 70 tonner in the early 30's but it is all a bit vague. I also know very little about the Ormelite's past although they are not a very common marque (the yoghurt pot) Trouble is the march of time takes away those that can help fill in the blanks  Oddly, despite Leicester being only up the road I am aware of only two ormelites on the Nene, my brothers - Northern Star which has been on the Nene all her life and one that lived up North bank near the Dog in A Doublet - I haven't been up that way for 3 years so unsure if she's still about. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2016 19:48:09 GMT
Tell him kris from A41 asked you to ask. Will do |
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Post by angelo1728 on Oct 14, 2016 14:36:58 GMT
Gazza & Kris Attached A 37 en route to Blackburn 1930's, place unknown guess either Douglas Valley or above Johnson's Hillock Locks? Part of the Gibbons Clan on board left Cousin Hilda Gibbons daughter of Uncle William Gibbons steering, Uncle John Gibbons Mate Agnes wife of John and Grandad Richard. Yes he does look a tough guy, he was a hard task master.  |
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Post by kris on Oct 14, 2016 14:40:52 GMT
thanks for that very interesting angelo, I'm presuming you have a family connection.
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Post by angelo1728 on Oct 14, 2016 14:45:02 GMT
Angelo1728 was my Dads boat after the A 40, so who am I?
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Post by kris on Oct 14, 2016 14:53:14 GMT
Angelo1728 was my Dads boat after the A 40, so who am I? The child of the skipper of A40. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2016 14:58:43 GMT
Kris. The jungle drums have been beating  |
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Post by kris on Oct 14, 2016 15:05:36 GMT
I thought it was Roy.
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