Rivetlad's introduction - Page 2

rivetlad · 31-08-2011, 06:33

Although I don't recall your name, we most probably have met up in some Hell Hole of a Todmorden boilerhouse. Commencing in the mid-1960s I worked in several " fire 'oles " in Todmorden, Cornholme-** Manchester Rubber Co **--replacing defective rivets, welding repairs on the furnace tubes of " Gradely Owd Lancashire Boilers, retubing the odd heavily-scaled packaged boiler et al. During the dinnertimes of them far-off days, after grafting all morning perhaps in the soot-filled side-flues or combustion chamber, my trusty Boilermakers and I would down pints of Yorkshire bitter or Guiness in the bar of the many local pubs; aye, and go back to work to complete perhaps another 6 or 7 hours! Halcyon Days!---And I miss 'em!

rivetlad · 31-08-2011, 07:16

HELP! What's the procedure for afixing an AVATUR?

Gremlin · 31-08-2011, 08:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by rivetlad

Although I don't recall your name, we most probably have met up in some Hell Hole of a Todmorden boilerhouse. Commencing in the mid-1960s I worked in several " fire 'oles " in Todmorden, Cornholme-** Manchester Rubber Co **--replacing defective rivets, welding repairs on the furnace tubes of " Gradely Owd Lancashire Boilers, retubing the odd heavily-scaled packaged boiler et al. During the dinnertimes of them far-off days, after grafting all morning perhaps in the soot-filled side-flues or combustion chamber, my trusty Boilermakers and I would down pints of Yorkshire bitter or Guiness in the bar of the many local pubs; aye, and go back to work to complete perhaps another 6 or 7 hours! Halcyon Days!---And I miss 'em!

I guess that you downed a few pints in the Waggon and Horses if you worked on the boiler at Cornholme. Worst job I ever had was to weld bolts all along the top side of a fire tube so the fireclay (I think) would have something to stick to. I was laying on my back trying to hold a welding rod at the correct angle and in the other hand the welders screen. That really called for a few pints of Stones bitter.

It must be nearly fifty years ago but I van vividly remember sliding head first up the tube and praying nobody would pull the cable out and slam the fire hole door on me, I also remember the Stones bitter afterwards and my father kicking my backside when I got home because I was driving the works Bedford Dormobile.

Tealeaf · 31-08-2011, 17:43

Hi Rivetlad!

Do you still have your rivet hammer?

If so, maybe you could bring it to the next Accyweb meet so I could borrow it and use it on some of the other jokers on this website.

rivetlad · 31-08-2011, 21:53

Aye, so I do. But if I bring the damned weighty machine, you'll require a large diesel compressor and a hundred feet of baggings-airlines.

BERNADETTE · 01-09-2011, 00:00

Hiya welcome to accyweb

rivetlad · 01-09-2011, 07:04

Bernadette---A million thanks for your welcome.
Alan.

Gremlin · 01-09-2011, 08:38

I hope you didn't have to repair this boiler rivetlad, it blew out the side of a mill on the cut bank near Halifax Road Todmorden.

Tetti · 02-09-2011, 13:28

Hi mr. Rivetlad a nice big welcome to the best part of Lancashire. Accrington and Accyweb
T

rivetlad · 02-09-2011, 18:10

BOILER EXPLOSION. LORD'S BROTHER'S, CANAL STREET WORKS, TODMORDEN, BOILER EXPLOSION, THURSDAY 21 JANUARY 1875. The horrendous explosion of one out of a bank of three Lancashire boilers killed 7 people and injured many others.
You can read the full horrifying story of this devastating explosion and many other similar boiler explosions in my book: HISTORIC STEAM BOILER EXPLOSIONS. You can purchase a copy of my highly acclaimed book directly from my website:
Sledgehammer Engineering Press - Fred Dibnah's Chimney Drops - New Book Release!
Read the book reviews also---Be Warned You Will Become Hooked On Reading About VICTORIAN STEAM BOILER EXPLOSIONS.

rivetlad · 02-09-2011, 18:19

I was a close friend of the famous Bolton Master Steeplejack Fred Dibnah for 25 years. During Fred's Steeple-jacking career he demolished some 90 mill and factory chimneys. I personally witnessed Fred dropping around 30 chimneys and assisted him on a number: Whitfold Mill, Facit, Whitworth, near Rochdale being an example. In 2008 I wrote the best selling book that tells the story of Fred Dibnah's chimney toppling exploits: FRED DIBNAH'S CHIMNEY DROPS. FOR DETAILS GO TO MY WEBSITE :
Sledgehammer Engineering Press - Fred Dibnah's Chimney Drops - New Book Release!

Gremlin · 02-09-2011, 18:31

I hope I haven't poached the photo from your book Rivetlad, it is one I have had in my collection for many years, where it came from I do not know.

Lord's works was near to another fine engineering firm, Kinghorn's. I went to College with the bosses son.

rivetlad · 02-09-2011, 18:32

In Haslingden Parish Churchyard is the enigmatic grave of Christopher Duckworth 1744-1800 who was a packhorseman: a Jaggerman. Duckworth led his string of sturdy, sure-footed pack-ponies in hail, rain, moorland mist or snow carrying corn, and other merchandise across the " wastes " of the Rossendale Fells. My wife Christine has documented the fascinating story of the packhorse men in her book:
JAGGERMEN'S BRIDGES ON PACKHORSE TRAILS. Interested? Go to our website:
Sledgehammer Engineering Press - Fred Dibnah's Chimney Drops - New Book Release!

rivetlad · 02-09-2011, 18:33

The photo is taken from a postcard. Nae worries!

vera · 02-09-2011, 18:34

Hello and welcome