[BITList] er

[Malcolm]

Hugh,

 

I agree with you Hugh. The noise of the pumps especially our sanity pump was
the noisiest. We got so that you only heard it when it stopped working (If
you know what I mean) we also restarted it again with a hammer. I had
forgotten the Battie Wallahs, ours was a young chap, he was quite fat with a
large smile always on his face. They all must have all gone to the same
course for our Battie also  wiped the commutators with a clean rag every so
often - the only task I to ever saw him do. What he did the rest of the day,
god knows. The electric current was 110 volts DC. I had to buy a converter
for my radio.

 

Malcolm

 

 

  _____  

From: bitlist-bounces at lists.bcn.mythic-beasts.com
[mailto:bitlist-bounces at lists.bcn.mythic-beasts.com] On Behalf Of HUGH
Sent: 15 March 2013 20:55
To: BitList
Subject: Re: [BITList] er

 

Colin,  Malcolm,

 

The Weir's recip steam pumps could be monitored by the daywork or nightwork
fiver (most often the latter) from topsides, thus saving shoe leather. They
would squeak and make other noises, and the alert fiver could often judge
when his presence down below was needed.  Also, they responded well to being
thumped when the shuttle jammed, and the spot to hit was indicated by a
boss. The two Clan Line vessels I sailed on were disconcertingly like the Cs
down below in layout, 6 cyl Doxfords and all, but the pumps were electric
motor driven and didn't like being hit with things.

 

Your sanitary pump, Colin, caused grief to the Master one day. For some
reason, though the pump was still running, the discharge valve had been
shut, but was just a hair open, so what little SW got through was wire drawn
and rather hot indeed.  The unfortunate gentleman flushed the toilet while
still seated, causing his nether regions to be harmed. He surrvived.

 

The Allan gennies, in my experience, were only ever overhauled by the Second
and the Chinese fitters, though the Battie Wallah wiped the commutators with
a clean rag every so often - the only task I ever saw him perform.

 

Hugh.

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