Look what's outside my house: 1914 retro content

[Bob the Fish]

Came home today and found this outside:



Didn't expect that!

Broke down on the way to a steam fair. Tools and brews are broken out, trying to fix 'er up.
1914 Aveling & Porter: made by England's finest from girders and Really Big nuts & bolts

[Lankytim]

Its Fred Dibnah!

[Tefal]

Fred Dibnah was a legend!

[Obsol33t]

GOT DISH?!!?!

[Seth]

Sept 4, 2008 18:20:28 GMT Obsol33t said:

GOT DISH?!!?!

Hah! You could fit a whole old mechanical telephone exchange in those wheels. I bet the old steam guys don't realise just how goddam cool that makes them.

Hope you lent them a hand BtF!

[penski]

someone post it on WW! I can't access it on my phone because of the STUPID site layout.

*n

[Blown_Imp]

Anyone who decides to build their own mine in their back garden without planning permission is a WINNAR!!!!!!

[Lankytim]

I recon Dibnah is the number 1 guy I wish id had chance to meet. My mum loved him too, she was in tears when she heard hed died.

I often read Dibnahish stories on this forum, adapting, repairing, reviving. I think theres a bit of old Fred in all of us!

[Bob the Fish]

Fred: proper hero... Apparently when the walls of his house started bowing out, he had two gert bit rods made, passed 'em through and basically bolted the thing together

Seth, offered, notalot I could do though: water pipes leaking which live in a tight box affair underneath, so I just passed matey tools 'n tea. It's back together now.
It's proper nice though; not shiney-shiney, just wearing it's battle scars nicely. Hope I get to hear it fire up in the morning! I can see getting to work a bit late... mebbe they'll give us a lift in

[escortmad79]

Ashpan out, loads of water, he's dropped the meltable fusible plug on the bottom of the firebox.

This occurs when the water level gets too low in the boiler, the plug is made of lead solder & melts, the water in the boiler extinguishes the fire as a safety precaution to save damaging the boiler.

I was lucky to have met Fred a number of times over the years, he was a wealth of knowledge, a great engineer, a great designer & a great person to talk to

[reanimation]

Awesome, England was cool. didn't think they still travelled on road!

Crazy fact? I'm sure it is law you can drink beer while driving one of these beauties, BITD they drank low alc beer (or any beer?) to cool down! ;D

[trg1984]

what a cool thing to park outside ur house!!! id be poking round that thing all day

fred is one of my heros, i was gutted when i heard he'd passed. always been a fan of his since i was a pup

[franster]

Sept 4, 2008 19:06:28 GMT Blown_Imp said:

Anyone who decides to build their own mine in their back garden without planning permission is a WINNAR!!!!!!

That very house went for auction last week, guide price £300,000. Auctioneer went down to £130k to try and get it going, and it didn't even get a bid

Would have thought someone would have liked a bit of local engineering history.

[Bob the Fish]

There were 7 (I think) pipes leaking, they had a conical piece with slip rollers radially around it. Inside that is threaded a long tapering shaft, which forces the conical beast to seal or join pipes. Mucho crud in the pipes had to be scraped out, but they resealed OK and they made the steam fair the next day.
Their 26 mile journey at 3mph, would've taken near 9 hrs even if all traffic lights were green... that's dedication! Oh and plus the 2 hrs to make steam!

[bmcnut]

Thats rated! I wish if I walked outside right now id be met with a sight like that. I'm currently resisting the urge to check!
Fred was a Legend!
I met him once many years ago at the Yeovil Festival of transport. My dad was raving on about him all day but back then (whenever it was) I suppose I didnt realy quite get it, authough I do remember him having a certain way about him. I started watching his programms later on because I remembered meeting him back then. I'm so proud to say I met him, he was one of few people who realy did seem to know just about everything about british indusrial history, and clearly loved it.

On the same subject, when I were a kid, every rear my family spent the whole weekend at the Dorset steam fair. The highlight for me from all the times we went was seeing 20 or so showmans engines steamed up with all their lights on, by the funfair, at about 10 at night. From what I can remember it was on the top of the hill and we were further down. The sight was amazing, the atmosphere unmatched, and one that I always think off when I see any sort of traction engine. Fond memories........

[stinkwheel]

130k for Freds House??? Did i read that right? Where do i sign??

[Deleted]

Even £300K for Fred's house. You get a small 2 bed semi here for that

I missed this thread, awesome ;D

[escortmad79]

Sept 9, 2008 22:00:48 GMT bmcnut said:

On the same subject, when I were a kid, every rear my family spent the whole weekend at the Dorset steam fair. The highlight for me from all the times we went was seeing 20 or so showmans engines steamed up with all their lights on, by the funfair, at about 10 at night. From what I can remember it was on the top of the hill and we were further down. The sight was amazing, the atmosphere unmatched, and one that I always think off when I see any sort of traction engine. Fond memories........

That was a few years ago then! The Dorset showmans lineup has grown considerably since then (Boosted by a number of butchered rollers being converted into something they're not & never have been! )

In all they usually have 200+ engines at Dorset, haven't been for the last 2 years

[bmcnut]

Yep! Thats the sort of vision i had in my head!

I didnt think 200 would ever be seen in one place, I need to go to Dorset next year!

[Bob the Fish]

Great pic!