Vintage Church Water Storage Solutions
Church water storage expert, Mr. Ryan Bryan, has sent us another fine example of a Judkins-style galvinised tank - very similar to one previously described in the pages of this learned publication.
Mr. Bryan has kindly shared some his observations about this fine piece of vintage water storage technology:
"Beautifully rendered Arkinstall rivets - and the Alexander tap is certainly worthy of note. However, the really exciting feature here is surely the extremely rare Champion overflow pipe! It is only one of an unknown number thus far noted in the east of England, and it is particularly unusual to find it on a vessel of such a small scale. I am sure that your Reader will be excited by this!"
* Due to security considerations, we are unable to share the exact location of this wonderful water storage tank. However, we can reveal that it is in the East of England
There butt for the grace of God...
ReplyDeleteDoes Mr Bryan always speak in a Courier font?
ReplyDeleteI find the unusual angle of the overflow pipe most displeasing to the eye and not at all in keeping with the overall quality this fine example of the water storers art. Something should be said.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Many Coats. A Champion Overflow sytem should never be treated with such contempt as to sling it on at some cockeyed angle. This is clearly the work of some amature or a drug crazed plumber not worthey to wield a wrench. Something should be said.
ReplyDeleteDear Dr. Turnup-Slack,
DeleteThe disruptive aesthetic of the Champion overflow pipe is quite deliberate. It is certain that the angularity of this construction deliberately disrupted one's commonplace assumptions about "how things should look," thereby revitalising the way things do look.
Yours Sincerely,
Mr. Ryan
Whilst welcoming the interest in such external water storage devices by enthusiastic amateurs, and being entirely sensible of their efforts in promoting this little noticed field of study, I feel that I must, with all due respect, offer an amendment to the short description of this delightful finds. Close visual inspection of the example would suggest that the rivets are not in fact of the plain Arkinstall variety, but semi-domes and flanged 'Dickinson Uprights'. Although rarer than the Arkinstall variants, and often mistaken for such, they represent an evolutionary leap forward in rivet aesthetics that should not be confused with their simpler antecedants.
DeleteIn similar vein it must be pointed out that the 'Champion Overflow' is not indeed of a true Champion design. Whilst the type was theoretically identified early in the study of external water storage solutions, no fully compatible example has ever been located in situ. Although it represents the apogee of overflow pipe design, like the long searched for Howey/Judkins non-return suction valve, it remains no more than a theoretical perfection. Sought by many, but forever elusive.
Yours,
Prof. Helim Black, Uni. of Indiana (Cromer Campus)
Whilst I would like to congratulate Professor Black for his erudite observations, I was most perplexed to read the grammatically incorrect clause, "THIS delightful finds." Surely, he means, "THESE delightful finds." I was so troubled by this carelessness that a capillary ruptured and I experienced an eye bleed.
DeleteYou people!
Dear Mr Ryan
DeleteI'm not a man to mince my words, so I'll say only this. Cobblers!
Yours deliberately
Dr Simeon Turnup-Slack
I run and jump and step up on things. I lift and carry and move. I leap over walls, and throw balls in pools. I do...
ReplyDeleteIn between matches me and my fellow professionals like to visit the Ragged Ramblers blog and, often times, laugh whilst we learn. Along with many other members of the England squad, I retain a keen interest in church architecture, and innovative approaches to heritage. In your work I detect elements of 'psycho-geography' and a playfulness which, in the words of my good friend, John Terry, are, "an invigorating delight, disrupting the staid solemnity and 'authority' of official heritage."
ReplyDeletePerhaps one day I will be able to join you for some church parcour and a slice of Fickle cake.
As you are wont to say - Huzzah!
I always knew Wazza had it in him!
DeleteThere have been far too many incidents of our Wayne snarling into the TV cameras at the end of matches but, when he returns to the team fresh for the knockout stages of Euro 2012 and scores the winner in the final, I'm now sure that he will approach the camera with a faux snarl, replace it with a smile, remove his shirt to reveal a worn tweed vest and shout a hearty 'HUZZAH!'
That's ever such a funny thought... no!
Delete