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Book review: June 2010

You can’t wear out an Indian Scout: Indians and the Wall of Death

FOLLOWING on from their best-selling Riding the Wall of Death (reprinted five times), Wall of Death rider and owner Allan Ford and author Nick Corble bring the story of the Indian motorcycles used almost exclusively for the popular fairground attraction.

The sturdy little bikes were the machine of choice for wall riders – their left-handed throttle control and low centre of gravity making them ideal for this form of entertainment – and although the Indian Scout was never the best motorbike in the world, the 1920s bikes were specially suited to the wall, right from the early days with the Tom Davis Trio until the current day.

With 150 illustrations, many previously unpublished, drawing upon modern and archive material, the reasons for this special relationship are given in a story that spans more than a century. It’s a story that takes the reader from the US to the UK, Europe, Africa, Australia and the Middle, Near and Far East.

Whether a wall fan or a bike fan, this book will equally appeal.

ISBN 978 1 84868 094 4.

By Allan Ford and Nick Corble, 96pp, s/b, 150 colour and mono photos, £19.99, Amberley Publishing, Cirencester Road, Chalford GL6 8PE, tel. 01285 760030, orders@amberley-books.com

Steam Heritage Guide 2010

UNDER A new ownership, this annual comprehensive guide to the UK’s industrial and transport heritage has been updated with a further 20 pages worth into a full colour and easier-to-read format by former Old Glory editor Brian Gooding.

Gone are the old page-wide entries into a two-column layout, arranged into 13 colour-coded regions. Each region starts with heritage railways, miniature railways and then an alphabetical list of everything else, encompassing days out to road, rail, sea and air attractions, which have been updated and re-reviewed by the new team. Together with an events diary, also re-formatted, it makes for around 2000 ideas for a heritage day out, coupled with over £200 worth of discount entry vouchers, most being of the ‘two for one adult’ or ‘one child free’ type of promotion.

Handy symbols to each entry denote whether the attraction has its own car parking, refreshments and full/part disabled access and website details are given if one requires more information.

One regretted loss is the absence of the alphabetical cross-check index of listings; if, for example, I need information on Wortley Top Forge but am unsure as to its location, I have to now hunt for it within the regions. Perhaps this small, but important feature could return next year.

However, this guide remains the ‘bible’ for all things in our rich heritage and should never be far away on your bookshelf or in your car glovebox.

A5 s/b, 116pp, £4.95 or by post at £5.80 from the publishers: Steam Heritage Guide, 23 Hewitts Industrial Estate, Elmbridge Road, Cranleigh, Surrey GU6 8LW, (overseas add £1), Tel. 01483 542907 or order online at www.steamheritage.co.uk

Traction Engines and Tractors built in the UK

INCLUDED in this little volume is a handy list of steam traction engines and motor tractors manufactured in the UK by the principal or more interesting builders. Coverage is mostly confined to steam traction engines, portables and motor tractors used for agricultural, road or related functions. Steam wagons are going to be included in a volume later in the year along with steam cars and buses and the publishers would welcome illustrations and other data that could be used in the next publication. Listed alphabetically from the post war engine manufacturers’ AGE consortium through to Wolseley, details of location and general descriptive text are given among the 184 illustrations.

Some of the more obscure builders are listed in this volume, which is No 53 in a range of collectable editions alongside subjects covered including British coachbuilders, classic airships and motor caravans among an eclectic back catalogue.

ISBN 978 1 900482 52 3

By Ron Ward, Zeteo Publishing, A5, s/b, 32pp, mono and colour, £5.95, order from Modelauto Ltd, 81 Main Street, Monk Fryston, Leeds LS25 5DU, tel. 01977 681991, email sales@modelauto.zeteo.com

Railways Restored 2010

HERE IT IS again, and bigger than ever before – the handbook of heritage railways. Now in its 31st consecutive year, its immense value lies in its listing of all locomotives at each given venue, plus a timetable section at the back.

Away from the famous and well-known heritage railways, you will find plenty of smaller concerns up and down the land that seek to tell the story of their own local industry through narrow gauge railways and their associated museums, and this guide will give you all you need to seek them out.

Tramways as well as the ex-railway owned paddle steamer PS Waverley are also listed within. The main directory has been expanded to include some of the bigger miniature lines.

New entries this year include the 7¼in gauge Ashmanhaugh Light Railway in Norfolk, the 10¼in gauge Bickington Steam Railway in south Devon and the standard gauge Helston Railway ­­in Cornwall.

ISBN 978 0 7110 3465 5

Compiled by Alan C Butcher, softback, Ian Allan Publishing, 272pp, £15.99.