[lcmuseum]

An update on my research into the canal barge tractors used in London. I now believe that there were three main types used:
1. A tractor made by Ferguson-Brown, probably just before the war. That’s the picture already posted in this thread (September 17th). This type was known as a “thin Lizzie” by canal workers and the recollections of a former canal man, coupled with a clear likeness to the Ferguson-Brown Type A tractor made 1937-1939 (or which there are surviving examples in museums – all of normal width). Coventry Climax petrol/parafin engine. We know now that these were in use on the canals in the early 1950s but they might have been in use from an earlier date. They were not very satisfactory, they were top-heavy and could topple over, and the Garner tractors replaced them. They were clearly a narrow, special version, presumably made at the factory near Huddersfield, but we don’t know much about them.
2. The Garner tractor, made early 1950s, pictured in this thread. I am still looking for a survivor, or a copy of the advertising brochure! These petrol engined tractors (JAP engine) were in use in the 1950s and 1960s, but we do not have definite dates.
3.The Wickham tractor, designed 1959, introduced 1960. We have the design drawings and we own a surviving tractor,which is beign restored and will be displayed at London Canal Museum sometime in 2019.

I am looking for material relating to all three of these tractor designs, because we plan on telling their story in the museum. Specifically:
-photographs
-advertising material
-information
-survivors (of the first two types). Would be great to find that one had survived to be seen and photographed

If anyone’s memory is jogged by this I’d be delighted to hear from them!
Martin Sach, Chair, London Canal Museum

[lcmuseum]

Thanks for the posts giving more information. I have found an article from the Daily Telegraph of 1925 that mentions experiments with canal towing tractors the previous year, although it is believed these experiments came to nothing and certainly tractors were not in wide use on London canals until at least 1952. It might have been a David Brown tractor.

I’ve been provided with some more pictures by The Waterways Archive and this is possibly the best picture of the Garner petrol tractor that was the main one in use on the London canals in the 1950s. We still know relatively little about this model so I am still looking for more information or pointers to any sources such as archives, or even to a surviving tractor of this design!

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[lcmuseum]

Thanks, do you know any more about the David Brown tractor? Martin

[lcmuseum]

Charlie, many thanks for that, I was not aware of that web page, surprisingly as I have done a fair bit of Google searching. I will definitely get in touch with Bob as he holds the Garner Register and probably knows a lot!

I am interested too in the David Brown canal tractor you mention as I know nothing at all about this, especially as you say there is a survivor somewhere. We are only aware of one other class of canal tractor, there is a photo of it in the Waterways Archive (which I have attached) said to have been taken in London but we know nothing about the tractor. Is that the David Brown tractor? The type shown in the attached picture was almost certainly never widely used and I’ve found no other photographs of it. Grateful for any more you can tell me about a David Brown canal tractor, especially if there’s a chance to go and see a survivor! Martin

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