Folks:
Each collier on the London trade (possibly only the non-flat-irons?) wore identification numbers high on the front of the bridge. They were displayed as white numbers on a black background. At present on the Riversea site there is a photo of JETBLACK wearing 73:
http://riversea.tugtalk.co.uk/memories/jetblack1920.htm
Also there is a photo of the France-Fenwick paddle tug DUNELM on the Tyne alongside a collier wearing 72:
http://riversea.tugtalk.co.uk/tugs/dunelm1883.htm
Can one of you guys formerly in the trade say what the purpose of these numbers was? I'm picking it's something at the London end.
Cheers, Geoff
Each collier on the London trade (possibly only the non-flat-irons?) wore identification numbers high on the front of the bridge. They were displayed as white numbers on a black background. At present on the Riversea site there is a photo of JETBLACK wearing 73:
http://riversea.tugtalk.co.uk/memories/jetblack1920.htm
Also there is a photo of the France-Fenwick paddle tug DUNELM on the Tyne alongside a collier wearing 72:
http://riversea.tugtalk.co.uk/tugs/dunelm1883.htm
Can one of you guys formerly in the trade say what the purpose of these numbers was? I'm picking it's something at the London end.
Cheers, Geoff