Comet – there was a replica
e news story on p20, CB October issue: I was an apprentice in the laboratory of a major Greenock shipyard and engine works in 1962 when it was decided to create a working replica to sail to Helensburgh from the original launching site in Lithgows Ltd yard at Port Glasgow on engine which they still have, and he is pictured here with the machine in action. Such engines, in 1812, were highly prized and the engine was salvaged, then served as the motive power in a Glasgow woodworking mill for many years before being acquired by the museum. The hull was built to the original drawings by an east coast yard specialising in wooden fishing craft; the engine, boiler, funnel and so on by Kincaids and other local firms. The build from initial drawings to commemoration voyage was accomplished in four months and was exhibited at the 1963 Earls Court Boat show – running on compressed air! I was able to get quite a lot of photos with my father heavily involved and my firm also contributing.
