Wednesday 31st May a misty damp start with light rain so not ideal for outdoor metal work on the Morris.

Greg has been busy cutting the rust out of the Morris cab floor as the rear mountings had rotted away, we need to get some box section to fabricate a new frame, mountings and a sheet metal for the floor.

The first world war gas attack warning rattle has come up well after the gluing and clamping.

Greg has been busy on an old 12volt bell it is now working and needs adding to a display building.

Some kind visitor left us a small mobile vice which has been cleaned up and preserved along with a hand held vice.

Greg has been busy getting plastic information labels for displays to enlighten visitors to their history.

The scammel decided not to start so a clean up of battery lead joins helped the speed but not the ignition process so again the carb bowl is off and fully stripped, it is now home to make a new pick up plate gasket as the multi layer one has separated and may not be sealing fully.

I started on the corridor joint that has been purchased and thus saved to go on our museum carriage. First job was to remove the heavily rusted hanger that was fitted so another can be sourced or made.

The spring collar took a lot of hammering to break the rust free

Then it was time to remove the fibreglass inner liner that was fitted much later in it’s life as an upgrade now redundant with the carriage going back in time to suit the steam railway

Then it was time to release the canvas and top cover this needed multiple rusted solid screws hammering out and the frame flipping over so the step plate bolts could be cut off as they were so heavily rusted and seized.

The canvas tube.

The top cover and strip.

The empty rusted frame.

The frame was then removed to an area with power for de rusting with an angle grinder and drill fitted with wire wheels when back to bare metal it will be preserved and panted black before being hung on the carriage ready to have the canvas and foot plate installed.

 A Victorian Match box.

For Smokers a 100 years ago this small metal box would have contained matches to light Cigars, Pipes or fires.

As can be seen, it has seen better days and was due a makeover.

The Passe Partout covering had become unstuck and we were lucky that none of it had become lost.

Now restored with a bit of new gold lining, it is more representative of what it should look like.

 After a week off Wednesday the 24th was clear sunny and warm so time for outside metal work.

The walk in beside the museum coach was time for a photo of last weeks step job now fitted and painted Only one more to do.

Then it was Morris front brakes with the shoes returned from Bruce Pickles engineering bonded and riveted

So it is now back on 4 wheels all brakes adjusted but fluid needed then a bleed.

Greg has been getting on trying to get the bonnet hinges clean but shot blasting in an outside temporary cabinet did not go well so they will be taken for vapour blasting at a local

The cab steps needed de rusting and the paint stripping this soon turned into a much larger job with the seat base, carpet and rear wooden panels removed for access to a rotten and holed floor with rotten cab mounts under it.

The mice had been living in there and collecting food from around the trees on site but the spot weld drill and cutting discs got the job started but this could take a while.

There is some serious work to be done her and it will need a good coating of preservative in the hidden channels to slow future rusting down.

On the way out a photo of last weeks quick repair of the forced door frame on the museum coach I fofgot to take this is after straightening and securing.

 The AA box, a few internal embellishments.

Keith found a photo of an original sign, so we had a facsimile made true to the original, from scratch.

The sign was printed on to matte plastic paper, guaranteed to be stable and colourfast for 100years, then mounted in place. 

Followers of this blog may have noticed, some AA boxes have a vent on the roof, this is because many were lit by oil lamp at night.

Keith, again had done his research and discovered that they used an oil hurricane lamp, hoisted up on two pulleys.

This has been recreated in the box for authenticity.

A Victorian Match Box

This rare example of Victoriana was looking a little sad in our museum, I  it and re glued the faux leather covering and relined it in gold.

Hopefully, the future for it now, is a little brighter.

 17th May 23 After a week off it was a nice clear sunny day that warmed up.

first task look at the Scammel after the gala weekend where over 4000 visitors attended

somebody had put it into gear but after a little coaxing it started and we moved it side ways a foot or so on the grass to save damaging it. Then it was time for a clean I noted the side lights were on but the switch off and it had been turned in the dash so a quick look spotted a wire pulled out and touching the live but an easy repair. Whilst there it was also a good time to remove cobwebs and dust from the museum windows.

The walk to the carpark showed the museum carriage covered in sooty oil deposits from the steam trains so some white spirit and rag was needed to clean it off.

whilst doing the clean a note was made the steps were looking rough with peeling paint so a job to be done later in the day. Greg did one in situ but two more were closer to the platform so a bit tight access so they were removed to the workshop for sanding. 

When refitted they will be painted with used engine oil so no more flaking just the odd re application of oil.

Greg has had some vintage style information sheets for the displays made on a plastic card

The GWR stoves in the museum are looking good and whilst in there the missing window retaining strips were put on the do list so one was removed and 4 new ones made and fitted..

Somebody had forced the carriage main door open and pulled the top beading rail off so this required straightening and new screws photos next week as I missed it out.

The work party was in Tuesday evening and found the misplaced original lock of the AA box in the grass so a wire brush then wire wool and oil followed by lanolin and brass cleaner we now have the new lock removed.

The AA box now has the pulley hurricane lamp fitted and a plastic copy of the telephone rules, Rob from the book sales on site has donated a 1920's AA book.

The jacks just needed a quick wire brush and more lanolin applied as there were light rust spotting on them.

A good day with lots of little jobs done and preservation done.