Re: Thames Steamers & Passenger boats

feeds@yuku.com (benm) — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 07:58:09 GMT

Hello Pat,

Thats a shame your having trouble with the tape. I know what you mean about playing with tapes and not wanting to loose anything.

As for the video, i think you mean the one of the 'New Windsor Castle' which thamesweb posted. I dont have any video footage of The King sadly.

Re: Thames Steamers & Passenger boats

feeds@yuku.com (Pat Larkin) — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 02:38:52 GMT

Welcombe back, Ben, you'll have read about our problems with transferring the old 8mm cassettes. We've given several DVD's to relatives, but still, no colour, and we can't solve this problem. We still haven't done anything with the last cassette though, the one with the trip on the river. I think we're both a bit reluctant to tamper with it as it contains so many different memories. We've taken in thamesweb's suggestions about putting the two tape reels onto a...

Re: Thames Steamers & Passenger boats

feeds@yuku.com (benm) — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:04:11 GMT

Dont worry im still alive everyone! Just haven't had much to say for the past few weeks but have been reading.

I have just found this wonderful photograph.

It was 4 stills taken from a 1960s bit of footage of my fathers old passenger boat - The King, which as you know i am trying to save.

I used photoshop to merge the 4 stills into one photographs.

Re: Thames Steamers & Passenger boats

feeds@yuku.com (thamesweb) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 09:54:03 GMT

Sea Cadet Corps - T.S. Windsor Castle Corps of Drums

Re: Thames Steamers & Passenger boats

feeds@yuku.com (thamesweb) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 09:50:44 GMT

Wrong 'Windsor Castle' I think. The Sea Cadets boat was moored up by the Swimming Pool for a number of years (and set adrift at least once) and all I can remember about her was that she was a former yacht for a European royal family. Apparently the engine was huge, something like a straight 24, but that is stretching my memory more than somewhat. Ah, yes, she was 'TS Windsor Castle'? I.e. training ship? That could be possible as actually the steamer now lying at Sunbury in...

Re: Thames Steamers & Passenger boats

feeds@yuku.com (BobB) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 09:33:25 GMT

I seem to remember someone asking about the Windsor Castle,but I can't find the posting.
Today, I spoke to a friend who has helped to run the Windsor Sea Cadets,for the last 48 years.He told me that when the Cadets finished using the boat as their base,she was sold to a South American Doctor who renovated her.She is still being used as far as he knows.He has a magazine article which he is going to bring to me,with before and after photos.
I will try to find out about copyrights...

Re: Thames Steamers & Passenger boats

feeds@yuku.com (thamesweb) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 14:57:27 GMT

What a shame you are having such difficulties. The lack of colour suggests that the DVD tuner is perhaps not precisely tuned to the output of the camera. But it should be OK. Are you using a SCART cable? Before you started using the DVD player, did the tape play through correctly to the TV?
My old camera is not behaving itself now so I can't offer that, and also I have no idea why the cassette is giving trouble. It must be faulty inside and in the absence of an expert 'cassette...

Re: Thames Steamers & Passenger boats

feeds@yuku.com (Pat Larkin) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 01:03:08 GMT

for Ben. After many hours, well days really, of trying and re-trying, and using altogether, three cameras, my Husband managed to transfer a number of 8mm cassette films to DVD. The sound was missing first of all, then after advice from thamesweb, he conquered that problem. The colour on some isn't coming through, yet others are fine, but that's the least of our problems. The only cassette that won't move/budge or work is the one with the steamer trip, so, if you or thamesweb, or...

Re: Thames Steamers & Passenger boats

feeds@yuku.com (Pat Larkin) — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 01:33:02 GMT

Just this minute had Comet on the phone. The young chap who took our cassette home with him, confirmed that there is sound on the track, so we're relieved about that. He suggested, as did thamesweb, that we get onto e-Bay and said there's lots of pages of old 8mm cameras there. I asked about a guarantee as to the condition of any camera we bought. He said to set up an account with Pay-Pal and pay with a card as that would guarantee our money was returnable if the camera turned out to...

Re: Thames Steamers & Passenger boats

feeds@yuku.com (Pat Larkin) — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 10:47:12 GMT

You are right again, thamesweb, I did mean DVD recorder. It's really getting to drag on now, especially after today's little episode. We drove over to Comet as planned, taking the borrowed video camera and a cassette. The young chap had totally forgotten to bring his 8mm camera in, so that was a pure waste of time. He apologised and said that if we agreed, he'd take the cassette home with him and try it for sound on that same camera. He's got our phone number, so we're...

Re: Thames Steamers & Passenger boats

feeds@yuku.com (thamesweb) — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 16:59:10 GMT

We've looked at a Samsung video recorder

Surely you mean DVD recorder. You really do not want to put them onto 25 year old tape technology!! Main reason being that copies from video degenerate, copies from DVD remain the same. No contest really!

Tape to tape copies degenerate each time they are copied. DVD copies are always as good as the first, even after many generations of copies A to B to C to D, etc.

Re: Thames Steamers & Passenger boats

feeds@yuku.com (Pat Larkin) — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 05:32:58 GMT

Ben, I saw on the news last night that an investigation into the fire on the Cutty Sark found that it was due to an industrial vaccum cleaner being left on all weekend, overheating and catching fire, so, it seems the fire wasn't started deliberately. I don't know what your thoughts are on that?

We, (once again), visited Comet this morning. We took the borrowed video camera with our cassettes and the chap in there fixed it all up to one of the new, large, flat-screen t.v.s....

Re: Thames Steamers & Passenger boats

feeds@yuku.com (benm) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 04:39:12 GMT

Pat

The ticket boxes are still there. They have moved them just outside the gate entrances to Greenwich Pier. The area where the Cafe's and things were have all been knocked down. As for ticket prices,Thames Clippers are putting there prices up slightly by 1 or 2 pounds as far as i know. This can be done as long as notice is given which it has by handouts and also on the company website. They are still cheaper than any rivals offering an all day hop on hop off ticket for £8 , a...

Re: Thames Steamers & Passenger boats

feeds@yuku.com (Pat Larkin) — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 05:48:48 GMT

Ben, my Husband read your posting about the old ticket buildings and says he remembers them from when he and my Granddaughter visited the Cutty Sark. So, where will we visitors get our boat tickets from in the future, or don't you know yet? I suppose the Thames Authority inform all boat owners of any changes and you get plans given to you to show where the new offices and facilities are. If you wanted to increase your ticket prices, would you just be able to go ahead, or would you...

Re: Thames Steamers & Passenger boats

feeds@yuku.com (benm) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 14:48:47 GMT

Pat,

The cutty sark still needs alot of work i understand and wont open till 2010. Your right about security,they need a security gaurd on day and night patrol really but then again its cost too.

Sounds good about the camera. HAve you viewed the Thames tape? Is there any good footage of steamers on it? Funny story about the eject button,that one made me laugh. Typical that is.

Re: Thames Steamers & Passenger boats

feeds@yuku.com (Pat Larkin) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 10:00:46 GMT

Ben, thanks, first of all, for explaining about the building materials and general chaos around the Greenwich area. At least it's an improvement for the future of the area, which can only be good for everyone who works there and visits too. Has the Cutty Sark been brought back to her former glory yet, or are there still some final touches to be made, do you know? It makes me wonder about the security surrounding this beautiful boat. Surely something has to be done now to secure her...

Re: Thames Steamers & Passenger boats

feeds@yuku.com (benm) — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 11:34:28 GMT

Pat,

The works you mention at Greenwich was the demolition of some old shops and ticket boxes to make way for a new look Greenwich pier starting next year.

The Henleys owners over the years added changes to her,im not sure who exactly added what but i know the handrails you see in the B&W photos which are now boxed sides which i think spoils the character totally have been on her for over 15 years.

Re: Thames Steamers & Passenger boats

feeds@yuku.com (Pat Larkin) — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:53:36 GMT

for Ben. I have to clear up one point. The excursion I took was on a coach from Eastbourne, (where I now live), to the o2 building, stopping enroute at Admiralty House and The Cutty Sark. My daughter and I walked all around and into the buildings, stopping for a coffee there. Fascinating place. Neither of us had realised just how big the Admiralty building is. We walked too by the landing area for the Thames river buses, but there was so much activity that day. Loads of building...

Re: Thames Steamers & Passenger boats

feeds@yuku.com (thamesweb) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:39:47 GMT

Interesting that Henley has moved downstream. Certainly she used to operate through Windsor (with a white hull and red painted name).

Re: Thames Steamers & Passenger boats

feeds@yuku.com (benm) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 10:07:11 GMT

The Alaska is on the upper reaches. However the Henley operates a daily riverbus service from Putney to Blackfriars in the mornings and evenings.

Here are a few pictures of her other the years:

http://www.simplonpc.co.u...ros/Henley_PC-02_AL_b.jpg

Thames Steamers & Passenger boats

feeds@yuku.com (benm) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:59:45 GMT

Share your stories & memories of these wonderful vessels. To get the ball rolling,here is a boat built in Windsor that you may well know:

Grand Duchess

Seen here looking tatty near the end of her career