A new book - 'Steam Narrow Boat - President -The First 100 years'
click on image for more.
Covers the first 100 years in the history of this boat, from the initial building in 1909 as a steamer, its subsequent conversion to diesel power in 1925, and, following restoration in 1974, the return to steam power, up to the centenary year of 2009.
20 - Below L 2 Lapworth, Nick Oliver, Photo album 49
'President' is an ex FMC steam narrow boat, and is now owned by the Black Country Living Museum at Dudley.
'President' was built in 1909 at a cost of £600 in Fellows, Morton and Clayton's company dock at Saltley, Birmingham. The company built and operated 31 steam narrow boats between 1889 and 1931. The specially developed compound steam engine and coke fired boiler took up much valuable cargo space. Steamers carried up to about 18 tons compared to over 25 tons in a horse drawn boat, but were powerful enough to tow several unpowered boats ( called butty boats ). One of the directors of the company, Joshua Fellows, gave his name to the distinctively shaped "Josher" hull which has riveted wrought iron sides and a 3 inch elm bottom.
President was bought by the Black Country Living Museum in January 1983, and Kildare was bought in September 1991. The museum is assisted in maintaining and operating the boat by the "Friends of President", whose objectives are: "To preserve and promote the use of the steam narrow boat 'President' and butty 'Kildare' in conjunction with its owners; and to use 'President' and 'Kildare' for the promotion of the Inland Waterways and in particular the Black Country Living Museum and to raise monies for the said organisation".
The boats tour the waterways in the summer promoting the museum & the waterways in general.
