Cleaning up some old, Ratcliffe Scumble glaze tins.

Scumble, is a thin stain varnish in a variety of wood colours, it was very popular in Victorian days right up until the 1950s.

The idea was to create a wood grain pattern finish on wood and metal work .

The scumble was pained over a light buff base  and wood grain patterning was created by pulling various sized combs an rollers through the scumble, once it became tacky to create a woodgrain finish.

This was to create a pleasant effect over woodwork to hide defects.

These old tins were rusty and filthy .so masked up and into the blast cabinet they went to clean off the lids and rims, then put under the wire wheel and coated with a a yellow tint to go somewhere near the traditional, gold mirror finish still present on the underneath of the tins.

Next we have these letters that were found underneath the flooring of the former Abergavenny wagon works building we moved to Toddington many years ago.

Although in a poor state they were written to a lady who must have worked in the office, written by an individual who was repeatedly asking for money to pay off debts, clearly feigning affection.

Dated around 1954, references are made to watching Harry Seacombe in Newport and the mysterious "P" whom money was owed.

Finally a photo showing the first cut of the Moquette  material, in readiness for the first 

stage in, reupholstering GWR Collett coach 4777,based at HoneybourneAirfield.