Old Pond publishing days

Two new DVDs showing Scotland's industrial heritage

Old Pond now has in stock two new DVDs drawn from the archives of the National Library of Scotland collection and released by Panamint Cinema.

The four archive films in this compilation all show aspects of Scottish steel-making in the 1960s and ’70s. Each of the films takes you into the heart of the factory to show the details of Scotland’s industrial past.

Make Way for Steel, filmed in 1966, shows the site clearance and construction of Colvilles’ new steel works at Ravenscraig and the mill at Gartcosh.

Lanarkshire Steelworks gives a historical view of steelmaking at Colvilles, recorded by assistant melting shop manager Tom Urie. The film was released in 1975.

An award-winning film from 1963, The Big Mill, shows in detail the production of sheet steel at Gartcosh and Ravenscraig.

The final programme, Fullwood Foundries, Mossend (c. 1970), shows old and new methods of making moulds and includes views around the iron foundry.

The Big Mill, DVD, approx 99 minutes, b & w and colour, released 2009, available from Old Pond at £19.95 inc. VAT

The five archive films in the second collection record a variety of enterprises from Scotland’s industrial and energy heritage. They range from 1958 to 1975.

The earliest programme, Rivers at Work (1958), shows the work of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board.

Central Scotland (1962) is an educational programme introducing the wide range of industries which were then operating in the region.

The development and production of the Hillman Imp car at Linwood is shown in the 1963 film Young in Heart. The star is Bill (Dr Finlay) Simpson.

The Invergordon Smelter (1972) shows the conception and construction of the aluminium smelter for British Aluminium.

The final programme, The Clyde Estuary, made in 1975, traces the history of shipping and the shipbuilding industries on the Clyde.
 
Young in Heart, DVD, approx 100 minutes, colour, released 2009, available from Old Pond at £19.95 inc. VAT

Know Your Chickens - new book advance information

The ninth title in Old Pond's 'Know Your ...' series, like its predecessors, is a pocket-sized paperback which gives clear information alongside recognition photographs. It is aimed at novice enthusiasts of all ages.

Author Jack Byard deals with 44 breeds. He describes their distinguishing features and colour variations. In his concise text he talks about each breed's origins, history, characteristics and typical uses. He includes a glossary and details of comb types.

Jack Byard's selection shows a wide range of birds which will inspire the reader to develop a further interest in poultry and poultry-keeping.

Know Your Chickens, Jack Byard, 96 pages including 44 photographs, IN STOCK, £4.99, Old Pond Publishing.

Breeds shown

1   Ancona
2   Andalusian
3   Appenzeller
4   Araucana
5   Australorp
6   Barnevelder
7   Belgian d’Uccle
8   Black Rock
9   Brahma
10 Cochin
11 Croad Langshan
12 Dorking (top right, silver grey)
13 Dutch Bantam
14 Faverolles
15 Golden Phoenix
16 Hamburgh
17 Indian Game
18 Ixworth
19 Japanese Bantam (middle right, black-tailed white)
20 Jersey Giant
21 Lakenvelder
22 Legbar (bottom right, cream) 
23 Leghorn
24 Lincolnshire
25 Maran
26 Marsh Daisy
27 Norfolk Grey
28 Old English Game
29 Old English Pheasant Fowl
30 Orpington
31 Pekin
32 Plymouth Rock
33 Poland
34 Red Jungle Fowl
35 Rhode Island Red
36 Scots Dumpy
37 Scots Grey
38 Sebright
38 Silkie
40 Sumatra
41 Sussex
42 Vorwerk
43 Welsummer
44 Wyandotte

New titles January-July 2010 - provisional schedule

Old Pond Publishing
Provisional Publishing and Distribution Schedule January-July 2010

This has now been superseded by the blog of 19 May

January
Working the Fields: the 4th Diseworth Working Day, Stephen Richmond & Jonathan Whitlam. DVD, approx 90 minutes. ISBN 978-1-906853-40-2. £15.95 (Tractor Barn Productions). IN STOCK. Details blog 13 January.
The Big Mill: Steel in the West of Scotland, National Library of Scotland. DVD, approx 99 minutes. £19.95 (Panamint Films). IN STOCK. Details: blog 13 January.
Young in Heart: Scottish Industry in Action, National Library of Scotland. DVD, approx 100 minutes. £19.95 (Panamint Films). IN STOCK. Details: blog 13 January.

February
Modern Tractors Part 2, Stephen Richmond & Jonathan Whitlam. DVD, approx 70 minutes. ISBN 978-1-906853-32-7. £15.95 (Tractor Barn Productions). Details: blog 26 January. IN STOCK
Ax Men Season Two, History Channel. Three-disc DVD set, approx 9½  hours. £19.95. Details blog 25 January. IN STOCK
New Century New Power, Peter D Simpson & Toy Farmer. DVD, approx 60 minutes. ISBN 978-1-906853-41-9. £16.95. Details blog 17 February. IN STOCK

March
Know Your Chickens, Jack Byard. Paperback, 96 pages including 44 photographs. ISBN  978-1-906853-30-3. £4.99. Details: blog 10 January. IN STOCK
Cola Cowboys, Franklyn Wood. Paperback, 328 pages inc. 8 pp photographs. ISBN 978-1-906853-39-6. £9.95. Details: blog 1 February. IN STOCK

April
Leyland Tractors, Stephen Richmond & Jonathan Whitlam. DVD, approx 96 minutes. ISBN 978-1-906853-26-6. £15.95 (Tractor Barn Productions). Details: blog 14 March. IN STOCK

May
Combine Harvesters Parts 1 and 2, Chris Lockwood. Two DVDs approx 90 minutes each. ISBNs: 978-1-906853-34-1 (Pt 1); 35-8 (Pt 2). Each DVD £15.95. Two-DVD set £29.95. Details: blogs 27 March. NOW DUE JUNE.
Ice Road Truckers Season 3, History Channel. Four-disc DVD set, approx 10 hours. £19.95. IN STOCK

June
The Long Haul Pioneers: a celebration of Astran International, Ashley Coghill. Hardback, 320 pages including 345 photographs. ISBN 978-1-906853-33-4. £29.95. Details: blog 2 April

July
DAF at Work: 2800, 3300 & 3600, Patrick W Dyer. Hardback, 144 pages including approx 200 photographs. ISBN 978-1-906853-37-2. £19.95. NOW DUE SEPTEMBER
Know Your Donkeys, Jack Byard. Paperback, 88 pages including 44 photographs. ISBN 978-1-906853-31-0. £4.99. NOW DUE OCTOBER
Know Your Buses, James Race. Paperback, 96 pages including 45 photographs. ISBN 978-1-906853-38-9. £4.99. NOW DUE SEPTEMBER

Two more books out of stock

Two more books have this week gone out of stock at Old Pond, both due to be reprinted early 2010:

The Veterinary Book for Sheep Farmers, David Henderson

The King of the Norfolk Poachers, Charlotte Paton.

I Walked by Night and The Rabbit Skin Cap reprinted

We have received fine reprints of two classic rural books edited by Lilias Rider Haggard. Publishers Coch-y-Bonddu Books have published facsimile paperback gatefold editions, including the unforgettable illustrations by Edward Seago. Each book costs £19.95.

I Walked by Night, first published in 1935, is the book whose anonymous 'author' Charlotte Paton researched for the Old Pond book The King of the Norfolk Poachers. It is an account of the unruly life of Frederick Rolfe.

The Rabbit Skin Cap tells the story of Norfolk countryman, shoemaker and poacher George Baldry. It was first published in 1939.

Both books are available from Old Pond Publishing.

Modern Tractors DVD in stock

At Old Pond we have now received stock of the latest Tractor Barn DVD Modern Tractors: the first years of the 21st Century - Part 1, presented by Stephen Richmond and narrated by Jonathan Whitlam. This was previewed in our blog of 4 November. Price £15.95, running time 90 minutes approximately. 

Books out of stock at Old Pond

In the middle of the Christmas rush, stocks of three Old Pond books have been exhausted:

Early to Rise, Hugh Barrett. Reprint anticipated 2010

Tractor Ploughing Manual, edited by Brian Bell, reprint 2010

A Square Deal All Round: the history of Perkins engines, by David Boulton is no longer stocked by Old Pond. All enquiries should go to the original publishers: Landmark Publishing, Ashbourne, Derbys. 

Stuart Gibbard on the move

On 11 November we reported on Kelsey Publishing's decision to bring the editorship of Old Tractor magazine in house and offer out-going editor Stuart Gibbard a broad role as editorial consultant.

It has now become clear that Stuart has declined the offer, accepting instead one from Lincolnshire-based Church Lane Publishing, known for Best of British magazine.

Stuart writes: "looking to expand into farming and countryside nostalgia, Church Lane has just added another magazine to its portfolio, having bought Vintage Tractor from Tim Bolton.... The magazine will be re-launched from the April issue with me in the editor's chair.

"My brief is simple: to produce the best tractor magazine on the market."

Old Pond / Truck and Driver competition results

In the December issue of Truck & Driver magazine readers were invited to enter a competition sponsored by Old Pond Publishing. Many respondents knew that Doha is the capital of Qatar.

The winners, pulled out of a hat, are: Charlie Austin from Co. Cork; R Harmer, Alresford; John Marks, Leeds; Dan Nind, Attleborough; Louise Whitley, Bridgnorth. Each winner will be receiving a free copy of the DVD Destination Doha shortly.

Unsuccessful entrants will be offered the chance to buy a copy of the programme free of postal charges by Old Pond. The competition is now closed. 

Ferguson tractors book back in stock

Now back in stock after reprinting, The Ferguson Tractor Story by Stuart Gibbard (hardback, 168 pages inc. 250 photographs, ISBN 1-903366-08-0, £19.95, first published 2000) is available from Old Pond.