The boat that Guy built

[Les Jones 1Participant @lesjones1]

Hi Norman,

The Anderton Boat Lift that you mention is something else that they could have spent more time on. If you are ever in the area of the Aderton Boat Lift (Northwich Cheshire.) it is worth a visit. Here is the link to their website.

Anderton Boat Lift.

 

Les.

[NJHParticipant @njh]

Thanks Les

 

That certainly looks worth a visit . Sadly, from here it’s a round trip of close on 400 miles! Who knows though if ever I get in that part of the country it looks to be worth a diversion.

Regards

 

Norman

 

[Steve GarnettParticipant @stevegarnett62550]

The other boat lift that looks to be worth a visit if one is in Scotland is the Falkirk Wheel.

 

Posted by NJH on 19/03/2011 00:33:38:

 

So my apologies – you were not at all gloomy but quite right.

 

In the middle of my ‘career’ (?) I had a nineteen year break from having anything much to do with engineering, and spent a lot of that time teaching, and… making educational TV documentaries. As a result, I’m afraid that now it only takes me a matter of seconds to spot duds. It’s not just the gaffes, it’s just as much the attention to detail; it’s relatively easy to determine just from the way a script is constructed whether the production team has taken anything other than basic professional advice, or done any serious research.

 

If they haven’t, then what is unfolding in Guy’s Boat is typical, and rather inevitable. Some effort goes into the first prog, and then the whole thing runs out of steam. So the rest of this series could easily turn into a train crash – worth watching in it’s own right, perhaps, but that’s about all.

 

They say that there are no such things as problems – merely opportunities. And to this production team, the opportunities in this series seem to be insurmountable – and they’ve missed pretty much all of them as far as I’m concerned. I’d rather that stuff like this simply wasn’t broadcast, quite frankly – it will put people off the subject completely, which would be rather unfortunate. Even James May’s ManLab programmes were better, and they weren’t much to write home about either.

 

Sorry to sound so negative about this, but it’s rather hard to be anything else, quite frankly.

 

[MikeParticipant @mike89748]

When I trained as a journalist, more than 50 years ago now, I was taught that one of the duties of the media was to educate the public, as well as to inform and entertain.This noble ideal seems to have completely vanished now, except in some areas of the specialist press such as ME and MEW and a few others. Or is it me, growing into a grumpy old man?

[Steve GarnettParticipant @stevegarnett62550]

Posted by Mike on 19/03/2011 15:27:08:

When I trained as a journalist, more than 50 years ago now, I was taught that one of the duties of the media was to educate the public, as well as to inform and entertain.

 

Absolutely – straight Reith. And in the order he gave it, which I believe is significant. And of course it should come as no surprise to anybody here to learn that he did a five-year engineering apprenticeship at Hyde Park Locomotive Works in Glascow – of which he said “The five years’ apprenticeship had a lasting effect. Some of it good”

 

The sooner the BBC recognises that Reith was right then, and is just as right now, the better for all of us, I’d say. Also, the sooner some Government or other realises that an economy that doesn’t buy in raw materials, process then and add value to them before selling them on is going nowhere, the better as well. The Boat that Guy Built (although he didn’t, did he?) is, in fact, a rather damning indictment of everything that’s wrong with UK Ltd. Graham is absolutely correct; it’s comedy certainly – but actually rather a sick joke into the bargain, too.

 

[Dinosaur EngineerParticipant @dinosaurengineer]

I enjoy the occasional chuckle on seeing some of the TV engineering related ” faux-pas”

Some times my wife can’t understand why I’m laughing .Like for example watching her Eastenders when “Minty” says “I fink the cam needs ajustin” and then proceeds to lower an 18 inch long 3 inch open jaw adjustable spanner into a cars’ engine compartment. Even our beloved Fred wasn’t adverse to dropping a few clangers now and again but he never did profess to be an engineer.

[The Merry MillerParticipant @themerrymiller]

Did anybody see any of the series “Industrial Revelations” with Mark Williams, him of Harry Potter fame?

 

They knocked Guy’s boat building into a cocked hat!

[Ian.TParticipant @ian-t]

Posted by The Merry Miller on 19/03/2011 19:52:42:

Did anybody see any of the series “Industrial Revelations” with Mark Williams, him of Harry Potter fame?

 

They knocked Guy’s boat building into a cocked hat!

 Indeed! 

Mark Williams is a cracking fella, with great enthusiasm for all the ”Industrial Revelations” that he was involved in.

Crying shame that he didn’t continue to host it, in my opinion.

As for Guy, nice enough chap but comes across as not the sharpest tool in the box – and I have to agree with others here, it looks like his program is heading down hill all the way. Shame really.

[John CoatesParticipant @johncoates48577]

My wife’s father was a welder most of his life and a rather good one, albeit an alcoholic which is what ultimately claimed him. He didn’t leave much but one thing I do have is a book from goodness knows when called “The Practical Man’s Book of Things to Make and Do”. Inside are six fold out plans for many “things” including a folding card table, an under bed wardrobe and a summer house. A veritable treasure trove for the inquiring mind with time on its hands.

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Posted by Les Jones 1 on 19/03/2011 10:37:47:

Hi Norman,

The Anderton Boat Lift that you mention is something else that they could have spent more time on. If you are ever in the area of the Aderton Boat Lift (Northwich Cheshire.) it is worth a visit. Here is the link to their website.

Anderton Boat Lift.

 

Les.

 

 

Hi Les, I believe I saw that in 1979 when on a narrow boat holiday with my ex wife, who was just my girlfriend then. We were with my cousin and his girlfriend and my cousins sister (who was also my cousin). We had started off at Penkridge near Wolverhampton and went via Newcastle-under-Lyme, passed Sandbatch and Middlewich on the Trent and Mersey cannal and then passed the boat lift to get onto the Shropshire Union cannel somehow, to get back to Penkridge, can’t remember to much detail about the route, as my cousin was navigator, and I was the driver most of the time, my other cousin was cook and the girlfriends had the job of opening the lock gates.

 

From what I remember of it, it was out of use and looked a bit rusty and negleted. Of course we only saw the top part of the lift from our point of view.

 

Yes I agree, a little more time there could have been interesting. I haven’t watched this weeks dissapointing installement, might look it up on iplayer if I find time.

 

Regards Nick.

[TerrydParticipant @terryd72465]

Posted by Graham Meek on 19/03/2011 19:56:38:

Hi Dinosaur Engineer,

 

………The last time I watched Coronation Street, Ena Sharpels and Minnie Coldwell were in’t Snug. The thing which sums up this whole “The Boat that Guy Built” problem was the time people were writing in for a job in Mike Baldwin’s new factory, I think that was during the 80’s when Terry’s beloved Maggie was decimating industry and encouraging the Yuppies to gamble money they did not really have………….

 

Gray

Hi Gray,

 

If you think that Maggie was ‘beloved’ by me it just proves that either haven’t properly read my posts, just don’t understand, or don’t want to! I wonder which?   If you think that my description of her as a “vapid industry hater” is to show my love of her, I despair.

 

Best regards

 

Terry

Edited By Terryd on 20/03/2011 11:05:00

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

Love here or hate her she was the only person who stood up to the unions.

 

I’d hate to think of where we would be today if we had the unions AND Health and Safety.

 

John S.

[blowlampParticipant @blowlamp]

Hi Terry.

 

I’m not trying to speak on behalf of Graham, but I think he was highlighting just how much he despises Mrs Thatcher’s actions during the 80’s, by comparing his feelings against yours.

 

If that’s the case then it’s perhaps an example of where a suitable Emoticon could have been used to good effect.

 

It’s just my view, but I hope that it makes some sense.

 

 

Martin.

[blowlampParticipant @blowlamp]

Posted by John Stevenson on 20/03/2011 11:27:56:

Love here or hate her she was the only person who stood up to the unions.

 

I’d hate to think of where we would be today if we had the unions AND Health and Safety.

 

John S.

 

 

 

John.

Could it be any worse?

 

Martin.

[Les Jones 1Participant @lesjones1]

Hi all,

Today I came across a group of Youtube videos about Bletchley Park that are an example of how to make an interesting program. The quality of the pictures and sound may not be BBC standard but the content beats it. Here is a link them

Bletchley Park video

 

Les.

[TerrydParticipant @terryd72465]

Posted by Graham Meek on 20/03/2011 11:39:03:

Hi Terry,

 

You always seem to get my comments the wrong way, I personally can’t stick her, and many would say I love to hate her, but this would be wrong as I do not hate any one.

 

Hate can be a very bad vice, it will end up consuming the individual, and no that is not pointed at you personally merely a generalisation.

 

A piece of advise given to me once which has stood me well, “We do not have to like people, merely tolerate them”, one of my past managers fell into this category.

 

I am trying to keep this as light hearted as I can, if my remark has caused you personal offence them I apologise, as no offence was intended, I often refer to her “as my beloved Maggie.”

 

Gray.

 

Hi Gray,

 

I too hate no one for the same reasons as yourself, however if I have ever come near to that emotion it would be for Thatcher as I saw what damage she did to our many of our institutions as well as society, apart from the terrible destruction of our industrial and national infrastructure. I find any mention of my name in conjunction with hers as deeply insulting. I don’t apologise for that.

 

Regards

 

Terry

[TerrydParticipant @terryd72465]

Posted by John Stevenson on 20/03/2011 11:27:56:

Love here or hate her she was the only person who stood up to the unions.

 

I’d hate to think of where we would be today if we had the unions AND Health and Safety.

 

John S.

 

Well John,

 

I agree, if she hadn’t defeated the unions she wouldn’t have found it so easy to improve Britain by decimating industry in this country. She was able to close the coal mines (pity we need them now), deprive the railways of investment needed in preference to her preferred road transport. She also closed those horrible steelworks, shipbuilding, aviation industry etc etc. and discourage engineering as an old fashioned “macho industry” (her words) which we did not need in the new dawn of clean service industries we would rely on (mainly investment banking and insurance). Without any organisations to oppose her she Improved us greatly.

 

I also agree about H&S without those regulations the abattoirs, butchers, restaurants etc wouldn’t have the huge costs of all those pesky hygiene rules.  Builders could save the costs of hard hats, eye protection, proper ladders etc and engineering may not have had their problems if they didn’t have to bother with all those machine guards etc etc.  So what if more workers are killed, maimed and poisoned as long as proper profits can be made.  We have plenty of unemployed to replace them.

 

In more recent times it was not the unions who caused the demise of Rover or Vauxhall or the many famous industrial companies we have lost in recent years. One could carry on this list for a long time, but don’t blame the unions.

 

Best regards

 

Terry

Edited By Terryd on 20/03/2011 15:19:57

[The Merry MillerParticipant @themerrymiller]

I think that we’re getting slightly off track now folks, can we get back to the original thread and leave politics out of it.

[The Merry MillerParticipant @themerrymiller]

What, left politics out of it or got back to the boat that Guy built?

[Steve GarnettParticipant @stevegarnett62550]

Posted by Les Jones 1 on 20/03/2011 12:14:31:

Today I came across a group of Youtube videos about Bletchley Park that are an example of how to make an interesting program. The quality of the pictures and sound may not be BBC standard but the content beats it. Here is a link them

Bletchley Park video

 

 

The content is certainly interesting, and this has been much better researched, and the actual quality of the pictures is fine – but the production values make it rather hard to watch and listen to, I’m afraid, starting with the first shot. I’m not going to bore you with the details, but you just don’t do that! Also, the entire narrative seems to be on one sound channel only – rather disconcerting when you listen to it on headphones.

 

If you took the content from this, and applied it to some acceptable production values (and there really are good reasons for this), you’d end up with a cracking good series (pun intended).

 

I’m sorry about the politics – it may well be my fault it started, but I wasn’t playing the blame game because there is fault all over the place here, regardless of your political persuasion. All I would say is that we wouldn’t have to put up with programs like Guy’s Boat (which spends a lot of time looking backwards, because there’s no forwards to look forward to from this point of view) if we hadn’t got into this particular mess as a country in the first place.

 

Steve

 

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi, switched TV on early this evening to sort through all my full RW DVD’s so I could record the Wonders of the Universe which is on later.

When I’d done that, Guy and his boat he bulit (allegedly) was on, so I watched it. I reckon the clock man started mearsuring for the length of screws he would need for his new bit, but found out it held it OK with the mike. But seriously it looked like quite an old and basic mike and probaly held better than a commercially made clamp, and was probally cheaper from a second hand shop (where else) and of course he could preset it to fit closely over the two thicknesses of brass and clamp it up with one hand.

 

The thing I couldn’t believe is Guy thinking that cotton came from sheep, I mean where has he been all his life, hasn’t he heard the Beach Boys song Cottonfields?

 

His clock alarm was a bit OTT but it seem to work a treat with the window wiper motor.

 

Regards Nick.

[Steve GarnettParticipant @stevegarnett62550]

Posted by Nicholas Farr on 20/03/2011 20:25:21:

The thing I couldn’t believe is Guy thinking that cotton came from sheep, I mean where has he been all his life…

 

Isn’t the education system wonderful? Even SWMBO (who is a teacher) was slightly taken aback by that. Mind you, I seem to recall that for a short while back in the dark ages (1957), the BBC had loads of children believing that Spaghetti grew on trees, so maybe it isn’t just the education system… Currently I believe that there are several gullible ones around who think that penguins can fly, for exactly the same reason!

 

(I tried to embed the relevant youtube videos, but the site doesn’t appear to do this properly)

Edited By Steve Garnett on 20/03/2011 21:30:14

[peter walton 1Participant @peterwalton1]

For such a naff program with so little usefull content why does it take so many ‘back room’ bods :-

Production manager
Production Coordinator
Reasearcher
Production Team of 6
Off line editor
On line editor
Dubbing Mixer(or is it down)
Producer
Production Associate
Head of Production
Executive Producer
Executive Producer for BBC
Series Producer
and a Produced and directed by

‘Never Have so many done so much to produce so little!’

 

I think Fred Dibner will be turning in his grave over the poor content!

 

Peter

 

[Steve GarnettParticipant @stevegarnett62550]

Well, since you asked…

 

Yes, there are far too many credits with ‘producer’ attached to them. More than half of them had nothing to do with the actual production at all; they’re just the Beeb hierarchy who like seeing their names on credits. In an independent production company you could lose most of these people. The on-line editor’s job is merely button-pushing – there’s nothing creative about this at this stage – that happened during the off-line edit (comes first). As for the production team – that looks like two minimal crews in different locations, but without further details it’s hard to say. The dubbing mixer was probably responsible for recording the voice-over, and the production manager and co-ordinator are responsible for what happens on location with the crew, etc, and actually locating the locations, respectively. I think that probably, the production manager job is now a H&S requirement.

 

It’s what is missing from this list that is more significant – where are the external consultants, who might have stopped some of the stupidity? And a research team of, er, one? The person who has to take the ultimate responsibility for the way the program looks is the director – but with the best will in the world, he or she can only work with what is given to them in terms of material – and this is where the real let-down is in this case.

[Engine BuilderParticipant @enginebuilder]

Just watched tonights episode.

According to the narration, the material used to make the baked bean can was wrought iron !!

[Author]

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