Rivetlad's introduction
 

Hello folks,

My name is Alan McEwen and I have today logged on for the first time.

Well now you know my name, here follows a few details about what makes me tick.

I originate from the small village of Top O’ Hebers, Middleton, Lancashire. I am therefore, a proud Lancastrian, born and bred. However, since 1970, when I was sent as a Missionary by Providence to teach Tykes how to repair Lancashire mill boilers in Yorkshire woollen mills – I have lived just over the border into North Yorkshire; geographically, my home which I designed and built myself, World From Rough Stones House, is only five miles north east of Colne.

After serving a hard apprenticeship as a Boilermaker in Heywood, near Rochdale, in August 1968 I established my own Industrial Boiler Repair firm: H.A. McEwen (Boiler Repair) Ltd., which I am proud to relate, overtime became nationally renowned by both industrial and heritage fields – such as steam railways, traction engine owners, industrial museums, etc.

In late October 2007, after operating the firm as Managing Director and Chief Engineer, I resigned, handing over the reins to my son Alasdair, who then became the owner and manager of my dear old firm. I am proud to say the firm, which has many Lancashire clients, is still going strong after 43 years of trading.

In early January 2008, together with my beloved wife Christine, I started a brand new writing and publishing business. All my life I have been fascinated with many different aspects of British industrial history and in particular, the cotton mills of Lancashire, and the woollen industry of the old West Riding of Yorkshire, and it is a variety of Britain’s industrial history that is featured in the books that our firm, Sledgehammer Engineering Press Ltd write and publish.

Being a true-born Lancashire Lad, I could spout forever!

Re: Rivetlad's introduction
 

What a grand (gradely) introduction.
Welcome Rivetlad...enjoy accyweb....it is a great place.

Re: Rivetlad's introduction
 

Great intro!
Hello & Welcome! :D

Re: Rivetlad's introduction
 

Welcome to my world.:D

Re: Rivetlad's introduction
 

Welcome and you can always let off some steam on here:D
See what i did there steam ,boilers oh never mind. Welcome again and them tykes need all the educating they can get.:D

Re: Rivetlad's introduction
 

Welcome to Accy web, that was a great introduction:D

Re: Rivetlad's introduction
 

Brilliant introduction, welcome to accyweb, enjoy

Re: Rivetlad's introduction
 

Probably one of the best intros I've seen on here welcome and enjoy the site

Re: Rivetlad's introduction
 

A Million Thanks To all for your Hearty Welcome.

Re: Rivetlad's introduction
 

Welcome aboard Alan,
I wonder if our paths ever crossed, I was a millwright working for Jeremiah Jackson of Walsden and worked on many a mill engine and boiler fittings, setting up the boiler for the test etc.

You sound to have made success out of a dying trade and good on you.
Enjoy you part time retirement, no doubt your son will be calling on you for advice.

Re: Rivetlad's introduction
 

Warm welcome Rivetland.

Re: Rivetlad's introduction
 

Hello and welcome

Re: Rivetlad's introduction
 

Welcome lad. I met you at a book or history event not long ago but didn't realise you were an Accrington lad. I have probably published my last book.On this site you will come across people letting off steam and the odd one blowing their top.

Re: Rivetlad's introduction
 

Hello Again Bob, Nay I'm not from Accrington. See my Introduction.
Regards.

Re: Rivetlad's introduction
 

welcome rivetlad ....

Re: Rivetlad's introduction
 

Although I don't recall your name, we most probably have met up in some Hell Hole of a Todmorden boilerhouse. Commencing in the mid-1960s I worked in several " fire 'oles " in Todmorden, Cornholme-** Manchester Rubber Co **--replacing defective rivets, welding repairs on the furnace tubes of " Gradely Owd Lancashire Boilers, retubing the odd heavily-scaled packaged boiler et al. During the dinnertimes of them far-off days, after grafting all morning perhaps in the soot-filled side-flues or combustion chamber, my trusty Boilermakers and I would down pints of Yorkshire bitter or Guiness in the bar of the many local pubs; aye, and go back to work to complete perhaps another 6 or 7 hours! Halcyon Days!---And I miss 'em!

Re: Rivetlad's introduction
 

HELP! What's the procedure for afixing an AVATUR?

Re: Rivetlad's introduction
 

I guess that you downed a few pints in the Waggon and Horses if you worked on the boiler at Cornholme. Worst job I ever had was to weld bolts all along the top side of a fire tube so the fireclay (I think) would have something to stick to. I was laying on my back trying to hold a welding rod at the correct angle and in the other hand the welders screen. That really called for a few pints of Stones bitter.

It must be nearly fifty years ago but I van vividly remember sliding head first up the tube and praying nobody would pull the cable out and slam the fire hole door on me, I also remember the Stones bitter afterwards and my father kicking my backside when I got home because I was driving the works Bedford Dormobile.

Re: Rivetlad's introduction
 

Hi Rivetlad!

Do you still have your rivet hammer?

If so, maybe you could bring it to the next Accyweb meet so I could borrow it and use it on some of the other jokers on this website.

Re: Rivetlad's introduction
 

Aye, so I do. But if I bring the damned weighty machine, you'll require a large diesel compressor and a hundred feet of baggings-airlines.

Re: Rivetlad's introduction
 

Hiya welcome to accyweb:)

Re: Rivetlad's introduction
 

Bernadette---A million thanks for your welcome.
Alan.

Re: Rivetlad's introduction
 

I hope you didn't have to repair this boiler rivetlad, it blew out the side of a mill on the cut bank near Halifax Road Todmorden.

Re: Rivetlad's introduction
 

Hi mr. Rivetlad a nice big welcome to the best part of Lancashire. Accrington and Accyweb
T

Re: Rivetlad's introduction
 

BOILER EXPLOSION. LORD'S BROTHER'S, CANAL STREET WORKS, TODMORDEN, BOILER EXPLOSION, THURSDAY 21 JANUARY 1875. The horrendous explosion of one out of a bank of three Lancashire boilers killed 7 people and injured many others.
You can read the full horrifying story of this devastating explosion and many other similar boiler explosions in my book: HISTORIC STEAM BOILER EXPLOSIONS. You can purchase a copy of my highly acclaimed book directly from my website:
Sledgehammer Engineering Press - Fred Dibnah's Chimney Drops - New Book Release!
Read the book reviews also---Be Warned You Will Become Hooked On Reading About VICTORIAN STEAM BOILER EXPLOSIONS.

Re: Rivetlad's introduction
 

I was a close friend of the famous Bolton Master Steeplejack Fred Dibnah for 25 years. During Fred's Steeple-jacking career he demolished some 90 mill and factory chimneys. I personally witnessed Fred dropping around 30 chimneys and assisted him on a number: Whitfold Mill, Facit, Whitworth, near Rochdale being an example. In 2008 I wrote the best selling book that tells the story of Fred Dibnah's chimney toppling exploits: FRED DIBNAH'S CHIMNEY DROPS. FOR DETAILS GO TO MY WEBSITE :
Sledgehammer Engineering Press - Fred Dibnah's Chimney Drops - New Book Release!

Re: Rivetlad's introduction
 

I hope I haven't poached the photo from your book Rivetlad, it is one I have had in my collection for many years, where it came from I do not know.

Lord's works was near to another fine engineering firm, Kinghorn's. I went to College with the bosses son.

Re: Rivetlad's introduction
 

In Haslingden Parish Churchyard is the enigmatic grave of Christopher Duckworth 1744-1800 who was a packhorseman: a Jaggerman. Duckworth led his string of sturdy, sure-footed pack-ponies in hail, rain, moorland mist or snow carrying corn, and other merchandise across the " wastes " of the Rossendale Fells. My wife Christine has documented the fascinating story of the packhorse men in her book:
JAGGERMEN'S BRIDGES ON PACKHORSE TRAILS. Interested? Go to our website:
Sledgehammer Engineering Press - Fred Dibnah's Chimney Drops - New Book Release!

Re: Rivetlad's introduction
 

The photo is taken from a postcard. Nae worries!

Re: Rivetlad's introduction
 

Hello and welcome

Re: Rivetlad's introduction
 

Does your wife's book mention the horse troughs at Mankinholes? There were few in line so all the horses could drink at once. I have a photo somewhere I took many years ago when I used to sup in the Top Brink.

The one below is not the one I took by the way.

Re: Rivetlad's introduction
 

Please remember this is an introduction section only
if you want to chat please use the pm system or the chat room.