Who Is “AS” ? (Boiler Maker)

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

A new member of my Society arrived, cradling a boiler in his arms; part of an unfinished 5″ g. locomotive he had inherited. The model is apparently of a Bagnall saddle-tank, and designated (in model form) as “Ann of Holland” design, but I failed to find any reference to such on the Internet. I may have been searching wrongly, but anyway it is not in the Reeves and Blackgates catalogues so either no longer stocked by them, or that was the builder’s own name for his example of the Bagnalls castings Blackgates at least still supply.

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The boiler is fabricated to a very high standard, possibly professionally, but the new owner has not found any papers for it; or not yet.

It is numbered in “AS xxxxx” format, pre-CE marking. My enquiry elicited the NAME boiler register shows two other “AS” built boilers, one with Sheffield connections.

If as suggested, the five digits are their completion / initial test dates, this one of at least three was possibly made in 1998.

Even if no maker’s documents appear we can still test the boiler as “new” (it has not yet even been fitted in the frames), and certify it if it passes, by the standard NAME procedure.

It would be good to know, and the WSE and test certificates do request the builder’s name, but that could be quoted as “AS: private build”, as indeed possible.

 

So, does anyone know who “AS” was, or of course, is?

[Nigel Graham 2]

On 18 December 2024 at 23:16 Nigel Graham 2 Said:

 

Even if no maker’s documents appear we can still test the boiler as “new” (it has not yet even been fitted in the frames), and certify it if it passes, by the standard NAME procedure.

Surely this is something the club inspector should know how to deal with.

Another thread on here suggests Blackgates sell the wheels so may be worth asking them who the design is by.

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

The locomotive was identified as a Bagnall so the wheels may well be common to several variants. I’ll see if the owner can find the drawings, but if not then asking Blackgates as you suggest, would be worth a try. It could well be a design that has not been stocked for a good many years.

I am one of our club’s boiler inspectors and do have my own copy of the Orange on White scriptures! I have not examined this boiler in detail, but I did notice it appears to have only one safety-valve bush. Without the drawings though, we can’t know if it actually has just one, or  two mounted on either a Y-fitting or on the dome.

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

No idea who AS is, but several references to models, typically https://www.steamworkshop.co.uk/portfolio/5-bagnall-0-4-0

Looks like a useful loco

 

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

There is a nice looking one on Facebook. details suggest it is at least 75yrs old so you are looking for a design from the 1950s or earlier

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

Duncan –

Thankyou for that link. Very informative! Ah – I wonder if the Steam Works people have encountered these initials or know who designed the model.

Jason – No Bagnalls of any sort listed by either Reeves or Blackgates,  so Steam Works’ observation that the Ann of Holland design is “rarely modeled” [sic]  is hardly surprising.

(Earlier I thought Blackgates do sell Bagnall-based designs, but I could not find them just now.)

I don’t know the history of our locomotive but Bob Hayter (NAME’s Boiler Registrar) is probably right that “AS” built it, and the two registered boilers, privately. So the initials would not be of a company. Alternatively, AS did build boilers professionally but at a small business scale, rather as Reg Chambers did, and may have made only a few.

It would be good to know not merely to put his name on a form for insurance reasons, but to credit him!

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

As I said Blackgates catalogue lists the wheels for Anne of Holland part W49, not the whole engine. Page 147

Have you asked on MECH forum as they are far more loco orientated than here.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Another one on Steam Workshop, looks to have two safeties

Station Road also have them for example

[Philrob27Participant @philrob27]

A lighthearted response.

Try finding Scobby Doo and Shaggy and the rest of the team they spent every episode looking for AS (Arnie Saxton) this might be remembered by people of a certain age. Happy Christmas All.

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

Jason –

Ah, got it! Thankyou. Odd they should stock only the wheel castings – (remainders?). I wonder if the design is otherwise identical to another under a different model name.

I saw on the Steam Works’ photograph that there are two safety-valves, in the dome. The bush just in front of the firebox seems to be for the whistle.

 

Phil –

Though possibly of the appropriate certain age, I am lucky to have missed Scooby Doo &co, apart perhaps from occasional sightings on relatives’ televisions!

Give me The Clangers or The Wombles any day… the latter presently being read daily on BBC R4 for the Christmas week! The Wombles rather appeal to me given my engineering has always used what in High Art circles and the Wombles’ burrow are “Found Objects”. Objets Trouvé if Brian Sewell is on your Christmas card list.

…..

I look forwards to our new member finding any more information on what he has inherited, and hopefully completing the locomotive, but I am not sure if he has the equipment and skills to carry out much work on it. I don’t know if he has also gained the lathe, etc.

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