Posted by Laurence Monkhouse on July 26, 2004 at 16:16:53 from 217.137.106.47 user Laurence_.
In Reply to: Re: George Owdon ....... posted by John Nichols on July 26, 2004 at 15:43:09:
The theft of the shackles was more than just a trifling piece of vandalism. Bronze shackles have always been fabulously expensive - so much so that I personally have never bought them. A quick look at the web suggests prices of £3 to £7 today for quite small bronze shackles. Our local chandler doesn't even stock them, but a 2 inch GALVANISED shackle costs £3 - this size is quite big.
So we are looking at well over £1000 at today's prices - and I expect that like most manufactured things they are cheaper now compared to the cost of living than they were in the 1930s. It's not surprising that their theft was taken seriously.
But once the matter was resolved I agree that it could well have been quietly sorted out within local society.
Incidentally I never doubted that Sonning ran a hire fleet. I doubt if any Broadland yard at that time relied on anything else.