NB Dane Elm and Gun Metal Ballpoint Twist Pen
(£2.50 from the sale of this pen will be gifted to The Narrowboat Heritage Foundation, the Custodians of NB Dane)
EUROPEAN ELM - Ulmus procera
European Elm has is a light to medium brown, sometimes with a hint of red. With an oil finish, it can turn a beautiful golden brown colour. Unless, of course, it's been kept at the bottom of a canal for an awfully long time.
The rotten parts of these rebuilt boats are usually used to stoke the fires that steam the new planks for bending to the hull's shape.Luckily these pieces of elm were too important to burn and have been properly stored. I wasn't sure how deep the rot would have gone and how deep I would have to delve into this piece to find stable wood. The pens I make from historic boat materials have been thoroughly tested by me to make sure that they will give pleasurable daily use.
Narrowboat Dane was built by the Mersey Weaver and Ship Canal Carrying Company and used as part of their fleet. She was built in November 1946 and first registered on January the first 1947. Ade from A P Boatbuilding is currently restoring her on behalf of The Narrowboat Heritage Foundation, the work being done is re-bottomed with new chine planks, kelson, stem post and soon to receive two new bow planks, gunwales, decks, new back cabin and engine room. The pens that I will be making from Dane are all from a heavy lump of Elm bottom plate.
Well we hadn't been out of Birmingham for too long before Deb had a call and the chance of a couple of days of agency admin working for a charity in the city centre. A few hours later we were moored for a second time this winter in Cambrian wharf.
Every other time we have visited Birmingham this popular mini marina had been pretty well choc-a-block with boats but this year it always seems less than half full. All the better for us and we managed to get a premium spot on the wharf side which meant we even had some afternoon sunshine on our solar panels.
Pen #459 was turned on the 18th February 2016 in Cambrian Wharf, central Birmingham.
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