Down On the Farm (1 Viewer)

[Ivanhoe]

Thank you - and yes he is a great figure, I think. He was issued by Johillco both pre- and post-war, so I'm guessing that he may have been originally sculpted around the 20/30's - as the depression had an effect over here too. You don't see the same sort of homeless person "tramping the road" so much anymore (thank goodness), but instead a newer kind of homeless people inhabit urban areas. This guy also reminds me of George Orwell's poor - in his books about down and outs. At least they were looking to work.

My fence is an experiment with one of my favourite modeling materials - coffee stirrers - so if you factor out the cost of a coffee in one of our high-priced chromium emporiums - the raw materials are pretty cheap!

I was aware that our old word for these guys had been hi-jacked, and now means something different on your side of the pond - but I prefer it to vagabond - or vagrant.

Glad you like him too - jb:salute::

George Orwell was a great writer IMHO.

I really like the paint job on your figure especially coat & hat, and the beard...gives him a "scruffy" look.

But then your painting is always superb.

Using materials we find around is one of the joys of this hobby...of course it can make "hoarders" of us all.

 

[nmrocks]

Great figure jb !

The fence goes very well with him.

"Hobos" were very common in USA during the depression. My mother used to tell us of them stopping at the farm, working for a day or two then moving on.

"Tramp" has a very different connotation over here.

Thank you for posting.

Unfortunately the Hobo or Tramp is still a very common feature of the American landscape, only now in the land of plenty they push shopping carts full of there belongings instead of a hanky on a stick.
Ray

 

[johnnybach]

Unfortunately the Hobo or Tramp is still a very common feature of the American landscape, only now in the land of plenty they push shopping carts full of there belongings instead of a hanky on a stick.
Ray

Yes Ray - as I mentioned in a previous post - homeless and/or disposessed people are still around over here too - they just don't "tramp the roads", looking for a chance to earn a crust , as in those bad old days. I'm sure there are many and varied reasons for homelesness to occur - but you just don't see this 1930's figure around much any more.

And yes, I agree - the "Worldly Goods" tied up in a hankie - has frequently been replaced by a shopping trolley - which is another sign of our times, I suppose! jb

 

[nmrocks]

Yes Ray - as I mentioned in a previous post - homeless and/or disposessed people are still around over here too - they just don't "tramp the roads", looking for a chance to earn a crust , as in those bad old days. I'm sure there are many and varied reasons for homelesness to occur - but you just don't see this 1930's figure around much any more.

And yes, I agree - the "Worldly Goods" tied up in a hankie - has frequently been replaced by a shopping trolley - which is another sign of our times, I suppose! jb

I was wondering if this was true in the UK and aus./NZ also? it's just as common as the street light in cities in America, seems every major intersection has several and every over pass is a home to many. Don't remember it always being this way but over here there are so many you almost don't see them, like landscapeing along the highways. Your right, many reasons, but I don't remember this when I was a kid in the 60's and 70's. As I recall it kinda blew up in the 70's?

 

[johnnybach]

A common "problem" sometimes occurs when buying up "Job lots" of incomplete or broken figures - Duplicates. I've found when buying up lots, that many common figures will eventually accumulate. One way of dealing with them - is to make conversions - which don't necessarily have to be complicated.

Here's a couple of examples below, which shows some Britains Gentlemen Farmers having a chat - and a couple of Carters walking along behind them. They were all found minus the moveable arm which was originally fitted by Britains. There may have been other faults which were easily corrected - but this fault provides an easy opportunity to repair them - and end up with more unique figures than before.

You can see my latest Gent at centre left - who is now holding a pipe in his right hand - instead of the original walking stick. The other two Gents have the stick - but both are again slightly different. The two Carters have also been repaired using spare arms - with the original figure holding a whip ( which is more or less like the original) whilst his companion now holds a stick. (The Tramp is just there - because I like him!).

[N.B. All spare parts came from Dorset Soldiers - and at 40 pence each - will keep the Bank Manager Happy. The eventually repainted figures look brand new - and were an easy and very reasonably priced fix].

jb

 

[johnnybach]

I thought you might be interested in another "Farmy" project I have underway ( well, it's using modified Britains Farm Shire Horses anyway). It's my latest Wadworth Brewery Dray I'm making - to look like one from the early years of the 1900's.

Here's what it's looking like at the moment - with both Max and Monty developing nicely, now that their tack is about finished - and the bare bones of the cart coming along too. [ At rear of my photo - is a postcard of one of the restored Show Carts that Wadworth uses at shows and other promotional events. I bought this at a recent visit to the Brewery - where I met both horses!^&grin]. My cart will be similar - though lacking the grab-rails on the cart - which is sometimes fitted with passenger seats to give rides at shows. Mine will have barrels of beer only! (Dorset Model Soldiers spare parts).

 

[thebritfarmer]

Great job on the horses JB, they are stunning !!!

 

[johnnybach]

Great job on the horses JB, they are stunning !!!

Thanks Scott - glad you like 'em, BUT..............they aren't finished yet - this is still a job in progress. The two horses are just completed - so far.

I will be working on the cart next - until I get it to the stage where the horses can be connected with chains - so a fair way to go yet. But fair to say - I'm very happy with how they are looking, so far. jb:salute::

 

[blaster]

I agree with Britfarmer. The horses are stunning even at this stage. Can't wait to see this piece done up.

Rgds Victor

 

[johnnybach]

I agree with Britfarmer. The horses are stunning even at this stage. Can't wait to see this piece done up.

Rgds Victor

Thanks Vic - did a bit more work on the cart last night - so will give updates when there's a bit more to show. jb

 

[johnnybach]

A fair bit more work done on the cart - sides and front on - seat fabricated and fitted etc. Note also that I've made and fitted one horse with the connecting eyes for the chain that connects horse collar through two more eyes and then to the front draw connections on the cart front bar. Each horse has to be drilled and fitted with each eye - and when thoroughly set - I can then do my final touch-ups to each of the horses.

The footplate has been painted blue - as I was testing out the base colour for the cart. There's another pic below - showing some of the real carts in Wadworth's collection.

 

[johnnybach]

This pic shows how the piece is currently progressing. My two dray horses have now had the connecting chain added to each side of the horse - which then connects to the front of the cart - or perhaps more correctly to the front draw bar of the undercarriage to the cart.

This means that each horse had to be drilled at three points along each side - and three "eyes" fabricated (paper-clips once again), to allow the draw chain to be attached at the correct points. These points are along the leather harness - which has already been created along each side of the horses. At long last, I will now be able to touch up both horses where required - to finally complete them.

The chain, by the way - came from what was once a ladies necklace (junk shop find) - and the connecting hooks were from a shop that sells kits to make up earrings. Both items do the job beautifully.

The cart and driver continue to evolve - so signwork and painting will now be concentrated in this area. I have to make up the large sign which is such a feature on these carts - and then attach it - which will be the next step in my project. jb

 

[Norman508a]

Hey JB,

Love the horse's and enjoy seeing what has been resurrected by your hand. :salute::

Matt

 

[farmertony]

Your work on the draught horses is excellent.Well done that man.

 

[johnnybach]

Your work on the draught horses is excellent.Well done that man.

Thanks Tony - as you probably know from your previous Farm collection - these are really Britains Shire Horses (No.506) - which came to me quite separately in two job-lots. Whilst they are very nice - there's not really a lot you can do with them.

So, after meeting Monty and Max - firstly, in the street at Devizes, whilst they were at work - and then a bit more up close and personal at Wadworth's Brewery stables (rear of the brewery), I decided to have a go at another Brewery dray. I think they are turning out to be just the job for this new role - and am also very pleased with them.

Glad you like 'em too - jb

 

[blaster]

The chain, by the way - came from what was once a ladies necklace (junk shop find) - and the connecting hooks were from a shop that sells kits to make up earrings. Both items do the job beautifully.

Until the wife finds out her necklace is missing...

 

[johnnybach]

Until the wife finds out her necklace is missing...

Very fortunately ( or maybe that should be unfortunately ), The Commander-in-Chief, will only wear Gold (or at a pinch - silver) upon her person. This chunk of chain I found is what she describes as "base metal" - and so, I was welcome to use it to such good purpose.{sm2}

Phew! - what a relief. My £1's worth - thus escaped confiscation. jb

 

[johnnybach]

Having now completed most of the parts required to change my Britains Farm Shire Horses - into a pair of "Wadworth Brewery's" finest ( i.e. Monty and Max)- two of their latest Shire horses, used to pull their modern drays - I thought it was worth hooking them up and taking a couple of snaps.

My dray is really a repair - but mostly a conversion of the two Britains Shires - into what I hope represents how one of Wadworth Brewery Drays would have looked like during the early years of the 1900's. It's about 90% finished (barrels to do yet) - so here's my couple of pics. I've included a standard Cart Horse from Britains behind - to show how my two Shires look far more imposing than them - and far more like my latest two chums, Monty and Max - who are still providing delivery of this life saving liquid - to the inhabitants of Devizes - to this day.

 

[Ivanhoe]

Having now completed most of the parts required to change my Britains Farm Shire Horses - into a pair of "Wadworth Brewery's" finest ( i.e. Monty and Max)- two of their latest Shire horses, used to pull their modern drays - I thought it was worth hooking them up and taking a couple of snaps.

My dray is really a repair - but mostly a conversion of the two Britains Shires - into what I hope represents how one of Wadworth Brewery Drays would have looked like during the early years of the 1900's. It's about 90% finished (barrels to do yet) - so here's my couple of pics. I've included a standard Cart Horse from Britains behind - to show how my two Shires look far more imposing than them - and far more like my latest two chums, Monty and Max - who are still providing delivery of this life saving liquid - to the inhabitants of Devizes - to this day.

From 'concept' to completion (almost).

You are a Master.

Thank you jb.

 

[blaster]

Excellent work! I noticed the fine planking on the cart too.

Rgds Victor