Skinnylinny Posted October 11, 2011 Share Posted October 11, 2011 Hi all, I'm in the planning stages of a shunting plank, and (as a student sharing a flat) have plans for private owner wagons with all the flatmates' names on them. One flatmate has decided to be difficult, and not go with a nice simple coal wagon, but instead would like her name associated with a musical instrument manufacturer, specifically keyboard instruments. What sort of wagon (if any!) would have been used to transport these, in particular harpsichords (which are fairly delicate beasts). Would I be able to get away with a shock van of sorts, and if so, would any of these have been painted in PO liveries? I would imagine "Not to be hump or loose shunted" would feature fairly prominently on the wagons if they existed, given how expensive the load would be! Unfortunately, I've not managed to find anything through the wonders on the internet about how this would be done, so I'm wondering if anyone else has any ideas? Many thanks, James Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted October 11, 2011 Share Posted October 11, 2011 Harpsichords had dropped out of vogue by the time railways appeared, being replaced by the pianoforte. The revival of the harpsichord didn't occur until the 1960s, by which time they would be delivered (normally to a particular concert) by car or van, accompanied by the person who would have to tune them. My neighbour, Andrew Garrett, was one of the pioneer builders of the revival, building his first instrument in his first-floor lodgings at Oxford, whilst still a student; when making a living from selling and hiring them, he travelled Europe-wide in either a van, or later, a Citröen DS estate. Pianos, during their Victorian heyday, were manufactured country-wide, and so would normally be delivered by horse, later motor, van. If one was delivered by rail, then it would probably have travelled as passenger-rated traffic in a railway owned Covered Carriage Truck or Scenery Truck- such vehicles were often used to convey the sets for touring theatrical troupes, and almost certainly touring orchestras. They had sets of double doors in the side, as well as end-doors, and so could be unloaded in a suitable dock. The description 'Scenery Van' persisted into BR days:- http://paulbartlett..../brferryscenery I wonder what was intended to be carried to and from mainland Europe in these? The new 'Easy-Rider' piano, with Min in attendance, perhaps? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philately Posted October 11, 2011 Share Posted October 11, 2011 What about a 4-wheeled shock-absorbing van - the one with 3 white stripes on the doors? You will of course need a fiddle yard to sort it in... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pennine MC Posted October 11, 2011 Share Posted October 11, 2011 Pianos, during their Victorian heyday, were manufactured country-wide, and so would normally be delivered by horse, later motor, van. If one was delivered by rail, then it would probably have travelled as passenger-rated traffic in a railway owned Covered Carriage Truck or Scenery Truck- Even before I saw this post, I was going to say that instruments like this would probably have travelled in NPCCS rather than normal goods vans. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AberdeenBill Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 I reckon with modeller's licence you could get away with a container, at least with a stuck-on trader's label... Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Hughes Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 A nice picture in - I think - Railroad Model Craftsman recently, showing a freight-car full of upright pianos (each in a big crate) being loaded on to horse-drawn carts. No doubt a similar arrangement would have existed in the UK. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 Next to the west end of Llandeilo Junction down yard was the wonderfully-named 'British Piano Actions'- sadly, there is no evidence that it ever had a private siding. Digressing slightly, a common feature of steam days were advertisments either on billboards fixed to the gable ends of houses, or painted directly on- one I remember from the stretch of line between Cockett and Landore was 'Duck Sons and Pinker- Pianos at Affordable Prices' Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PhilJ W Posted October 12, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 12, 2011 Many grand and upright pianos had cast iron frames. The Mildmay Ironworks of Booth & Brookes, Burnham-on-Crouch produced such items in vast numbers and they were often transported in open wagons. There is a photograph of two different frames in 'Burnham-on-Crouch in old photographs' published in the 1980's. The factory at Burnham was right alongside the goods yard and almost all their products went by rail. http://www.piano.chr....com/frame.html Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Classsix T Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 Mr. Shifter and Son. Captain Morgan. Rick Wright's right quick upright pick-up. Gary Numan keyboard moving. I'll let you get on... C6T. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 If you must have a name on the side, why not 'James May'? The Top Gear presenter (and apparent railway enthusiast) apparently studied music, and played the harpsichord, when at university. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skinnylinny Posted October 14, 2011 Author Share Posted October 14, 2011 Thanks to all, it looks like it might have to be another industry for her... With Pritchard being her surname, I've suggested the "Pritchard Patent Product Company" or "P-Co" for short... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickinwestwales Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 Thanks to all, it looks like it might have to be another industry for her... With Pritchard being her surname, I've suggested the "Pritchard Patent Product Company" or "P-Co" for short... That could work............ R.E Brians British piano actions,If I have the right of it, the `action` of a piano is the rack of hammers and associated gubbins that connect keys to strings ATB Nick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.