Vesta in dry dock.
basil | 11/17/2005 | 2:43 pmVesta in Diglis dry dock, Worcester. 1960.
(more photo’s of “Vesta” in canals in worcestershire.)
The first task in restoration was fitting new 3 inch thick by 2ft. wide elm planks to the bottom and painting the iron plates with bitumastic coating, then work could start on the cabins.
An interesting job was graining with “scumble” the inside of cabin to make it look like oak. Working boatmen advised us to look for ornate brass knobs in the countryside on old bedsteads put in the hedgerow by farmers to block up holes.Decorative lace plates could still be won at the fairs, throwing for coconuts.
The chain for the chimney was made from bent ex army buckles and highly polished.
Traditional castles and roses decorated the rear cabin doors and fitted furniture.
We had a stool and watercan painted by Ron Hough of Braunston to use as a pattern. Max
Jocelyn and Max appeared on www.britishpathe.com film “Stourbridge Canal Rally 1962”