Model tug Vigilant was trialled on Manchester Ship Canal.
Impressive sea-going tug model takes up its berth at London’s 2016 Winter Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair
By James Brewer
A sea-going tug – in the form of a working scale model – has arrived on the terrace of the grand marquee in Battersea Park that is housing the Winter Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair from January 19-24.
The model of the tug Vigilant, offered for sale by Hatchwell Antiques of London, was hand-built some 30 years ago in his garden shed by a man named Howe, who worked in the boat-building industry. Mr Howe died in 2014.
Boat-building skills of the late Mr Howe.
Mr Howe paid meticulous attention to detail, and the Vigilant took three years to construct, from original, scaled-down plans. Overall length is 12 ft. It is powered by an electric motor that came from an electric wheelchair. Photos show Mr Howe testing the tug’s seaworthiness by sailing it on the Manchester Ship Canal. His work was vindicated when the trial was a success.
Hatchwell Antiques, based at the Furniture Cave on King’s Road, Chelsea, has had the model in storage at its premises ahead of delivering it as a ‘for sale’ item to the Fair.
Led by Allan Hatchwell, the firm sells a wide variety of antiques including aviation models and parts, binoculars and telescopes, book cases and cabinets and other furniture, chests, clocks and barometers, lighting, mirrors, paintings and prints, and pianos.
