Bath Tec School

Hi Stu,

Don't know much about tractors but it is very interesting little story. Did hear a few years back that accidents on and with tractors in Australia is one of the biggest farming problems.   A lot of farmers use the tractor for almost every job imaginable and think they are invincible.  The new modern tractors all have the roll cages etc and heaps of safety features.  Being a tractor affectionado you must know all the guff about tractors and saftey.  Do you have any comments on this??

Also how does one spell check in the mode??

Cheers,

Ken Eynon

Hi John, Ken & all,

Good to see a bit about something other than buses and trains .. .. (only joking of course)

 

I guess that the change in weather has affected everyone in the U.K. and other things need to be attended to. Perhaps the colder weather will bring a few more out to play soon. I guess Steve is busy with his new computer, probably trying to work out what I said about "backup" on the Acer Laptop.

 

Ken, here is a link to a online spell checker for you... http://www.jspell.com/public-spell-checker.html

 

I am off to the "book Barn" in Hallatrow today to see if I can get anymore fresh research material. I`ll let you know if there are any more Railway books John. (Oh, and buses of course!!)

 

Regards..

 

 

Hi all.

Many thanks Bill for posting the sad news about 'Spike' Hughes. It's ironical really that I mentioned 'Spike' on this site only a few days ago. Although he was a couple of years below us at school we all knew him quite well because he also lived at Corsham at the time, and he was accepted as 'One of the boys'. In those far off days few people had phones in their homes, but Spike's family did, so we used to ring him from a public call box. I remember that he used to warn us that his mother could be listening on the extension. I'm sure that he will be sadly missed. Should this message by any means find its way to anyone that is still in touch with his family, please pass on my deepest condolences.

I'm sure you only included the bit about the 'Book Barn' at Hallatrow to make me envious, Bill, and you succeeded! Don't forget that you are only three and a quarter miles from Camerton (by rail), a visit for a quick poke about would be nice! 

Yes Ken, you are right about safety and tractors, a tractor can be a very useful friend but a lethal enemy. A you so rightly say all the modern tractors bristle with safety features resulting in far less accidents on farms. However we nuts that rehome orphan tractors are more exposed to safety issues. I like to think, however that the average collector is fully aware of the shortcomings of all the machines in their charge and are very, very careful. A typical example of this is the 1953 Allis Chalmers model B that I own. I know that I can get on and wiggle the gear stick about until I'm totally convinced that it is not in gear prior to starting. This proves very little as I know that perhaps on one occasion in twenty it will still be in gear. Dodgy, as you can start it using a starting handle inserted into the front of the crank shaft through the bottom of the radiator cowling, and you can bet your life that sods law dictates that when you least want it she will start first pull of the crank. Now then, there is a safety feature to prevent you being sandwiched between said front end and the barn wall. There is a little catch on the cluch pedal so that the clutch can be depressed and latched down thus isolating the engine from the transmission and sensible people always make sure this is operated before trying to start.

There was a sad incident a couple of years ago now when the accident described above actually happened to a new owner, the man was seriously injured when his tractor ran over him. Moral to story, when working with vintage tractors always keep a clear head, think and if you are unsure, don't do it!

A farm of course is a business like any other and subject to all the health and safety laws and current European Directives. However the average collector is not running a business it's his hobby and to try to make vintage machinery comply is somewhat defeating the object of the operation. It is generally accepted by the insurance industry that such machines are restored to their original condition and the owner is a very competent person. 

Hope this clarifies some of the safety issues without boring you to death.

Best Regards to all.

John. 

 

Hello all,

John, I have just sent a copy of your comments about the late "Spike" to his cousin Steve Wakefield. (Also C.O.B.T.S pupil of `67 intake)

 

I`m sure he will be joining us soon as a member (invitation sent yesterday.)

 

"Book Barn .. I`m glad I made you envious, it is important to observe that this "Barn" is in fact multiple "Barns" on two sites (was three but the Bristol locations had to close). 10s` of 1000s` of books had to be left behind .. sadly most went into landfill (I think)

 

Follow this link to get an idea .. http://www.bookbarninternational.co.uk/default.html

 

If you would like to stay for a few days (weeks) you are very welcome, I can offer you a twin room (2 beds) indoors or two doubles, 1 single bed(s) in the Motor Home on the drive, (with your own electricity supply, t.v., cooking, washing & toilet facilities). We have parking for a few extra vehicles as well.

 

It is but a few minutes drive from Timsbury. Open 7 days a week. Cafe for drinks and snacks, Public computers to search for any book, shelves sections plan leaflets. Payment by card / Cash. Mail order delivery. Fiction is on the upper floors. Ample parking.

 

The guy who owns it (in 2005-8) used to visit us for his computers at "Smart Computers U.K. Ltd", I was helping the owner (Ian Grinstead) with I.T. Support for over a year.) they were based in Whitchurch Bristol, have now split into three separate parts.

 

See, you`re not the only one who can bore people ..ha ha ...

Hi Bill and all.

Firstly, thank you Bill for the information regarding 'Spike' Hughes, I didn't realise that Steve Wakefield was related.

I have sent an E Mail to Steve to thank him for keeping us posted, also to say that I intend to be present at the reunion, probably with 'er indoors, but March 2010 is quite a long way off yet.

Glad you had a good day at the Book Barn, I hope it was fruitful. Thank you for all the information and link, also for kind offer of accommodation, we really must take you up on it some time. Unfortunately as you know I'm still in harness so I have to chose my time carefully, but I must admit that I'm dying to get my mits on some of those books!

Just realised what a long boring speel that was about the vintage tractors........... I'm sorry..........

The trouble is, I find it very easy to let my enthusiasm run away with me when it comes to ag machinery. Unlike the steam fraternity the tractor lads seem to have more social events and working gatherings etc. Besides being enthusiasts, we find that tractor ownership to be much more suited to the working man's pocket, not cheap but no more than the average bloke may spend on golf or the like. Not only that, but you must have something to keep you out of mischief.

If I can be of any further help with your research, Bill, then let me know and I will, if at all possible.

Have to go now.

Regards to all.

John.

Hello John et al,

I`m sure many will agree with tme that the stories you post are far from boring, they always seem to generate  a responce. We have to have something to to focus on & keep us ticking over. I can drone on for England once my "engine" is warmed up.

 

Havng a "butterfly" brain helps me as well, my interests are diverse, but I always come back to a few "favourites". Mostly to do with the world as I saw it when a child growing up in Bath. We had very little spare cash, but I will always be grateful to my mother for finding the money to buy me a set of encyclopedia when I started the Tech in `59. If I couldn`t travel very far, then the images and words on the pages used to transport me off where ever I wanted to go. (add to that free bus rides everywhere courtesy of my father and Bath Tramways).

 

Well, more "dirty fingernail" at Midford today (hopefully) .. waiting for a call from Anth .. catch you soon. 

 

 

 

 

Hi Bill and all.

Thank you for your kind comments, Bill, I know what you mean about childhood memories and I'm sure it will be of little comfort for you to know that it only gets worse as you get older.

Hope you and Anth had a good day at Midford and your trip was worthwhile.

I'm afraid I shall be a bit quiet as I have a fair amount of 'Club' work to do over the next few days, but I am hoping that once done I shall be able to sort out a few more Midford facts that have been bothering me for a while.

It would be nice if you are right and we see something of Steve Wakefield on the site.

Regards to all.

John.

Hi John, I am totally cream crackered after a day of walking and digging and scraping away at bits of rock and stone, Bill could hardly walk back to the car this afternoon and is probably still soaking in the bath if he has any sense, we uncovered a bit more of the item that we found on an earlier visit and it was very satisfying to take some photos after it was fully exposed, its not what we were looking for originally but all the same it is worth recording and Bill will foward some pics to you I am sure, must go now and get in the bath myself, cheers 

Hi Anth.

Thanks for the update. Glad you are both 'enjoying' yourselves, must be very satisfying.

Would appreciatew anypiccies when available.

Been checking out the Dorset and Somerset canal, such as it was. Only scratched the surface though!

Best Regards.

John.

PS All the good bits appear to be up Frome way. Would you believe it!

Good morning all

 

Just sat here looking at the sunshine and looking forward to another day of 30C. My mind started to wander and the reoccuring theme of tractors was prominent. Then I remembered why!!!  Stu will probably be able to back me up on this. Approx. 10 years ago I went on a full-time Professional Gardener's Course at Lackham College Wiltshire. Although I was on a Horticulture course there is a very strong agricultural influence. One of the modules on my course was Machinery and this involved the driving of tractors and trailers to a standard that you passed this module. As always H & S was very prominent and some of what John has been saying rings bells. I also remember that we were taught that there were 26 points to remember when changing a tractor wheel! I memorised these and yes, one of the exam questions wanted to know those 26 points! Distinction!  Cannot remember one now. 

 

Cheers

 

Steve

Hello All,

Tractors .. Scmactors .. Trailers ... Taylers .....  all things four wheeled ... does this mean we can talk about Buses again soon? .... ha ha

Hi all.

Let me start by congratulating Bill and Anth for their efforts down at Midford, cracking photos, guys.

Did you see my comments on the glass tube, do you think there is any mileage in it?

Thanks also for letting me know about the 'Book Barn', Bill. Shame, do you think they will reopen the business at all?

Thanks for the info on the Dorset and Somerset Anth. I knew that it never came to fruition, and I believe that the section that went to Mells was a branch off the proposed main cut. I knew about Fussell's ballanced lock, I believe it was near the old GWR line at Mells although I have never actually been there. Still enough, already, 'cos I think this is a bit outside your current remit.

Nice to hear your comments on tractors, Steve, in spite of what Bill says.........

Glad you are still having nice sunny weather, like Anth says its fairly hellish here, plenty of rain lately.

I was interested in the fact that you attended Lackham for a time, as you have probably already deduced I lived at Corsham all my school days and had an Aunt and Uncle that lived just up the road from the Ag College, at Showell Farm. This was on the old main road from Laycock to Chippenham half way between Lackham and Queens Bridge (Under the railway) It's all been altered now!

Finally, Bill, being as you brought the subject up, a mate at work has just scanned a reproduction of a painting of a Royal Blue Bristol half cab coach leaving the Torpoint Ferry, very nice tis too! If I can get him to load it onto a stick I will paste it up for you all.

Bi for now.

John.