Page 60 - A-Z of BCN 8a

A-Z of the Birmingham Canal Navigations

to the ton was allowed, although it was commonly 2400 lbs to the ton. The customer in this way did not suffer loss in transfer,
but the supplier effectively funded the extra material to their own cost. As coal became more expensive to mine, coal suppliers
were particularly vocal in having a more accurate measure of weight. The Birmingham Canal Navigation met this request
through changing the method from the system of fixing boat indexes to the effective calibration of a boat.

In 1873, the Gauging Station at Tipton opened its doors. The work was carried out in two covered basins above the Top Factory
Lock. Each basin was one boat’s length. At Smethwick Station, the piers were lengthened and widened and covered with a
building similar to Tipton. Although there was only one through basin, it was two boats in length, and therefore could deal
with the same amount of boats as Tipton. Both stations were provided with hydraulic cranes.

The purpose of these stations was to produce a gauging table
for each boat A copy of each table was then bound with
others in books and deposited at each toll house for the
reference of the collectors there.

Caggy Stevens’ tug waits at the top of Factory Three Locks whilst Gauging weights were supposed to be accurate to the ton,
the boats it has towed are locked down. This is 1966 and the but there was some mention in BCN records of other sets that
indexing station has closed. The Inspector’s house is visible. still favoured longweight measurement! At the same time
Waterways Images there was a prevailing country wide opinion to eliminate the
longweight practice. A new weights and measures act came
into force in 1879 and the 1893 BCN Act regarding tolls also
made inroads into removing the practice. The revised canal
rates clearly registered a dissent from those who still
managed to get around the system A letter written to the
Birmingham Daily Post by George Crowther of Chance
Brothers, glassmakers, Spon Lane (23 November 1892) refers
to the reduction in the present standard weight of 2400lbs

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