The Full Extent Of The Damage
Is It Lost Forever
After several meetings, involving long in depth discussions about the future of the Gem Pump and after several visits by specialist trade representatives to view the damaged steamer, the consensus of many people was that this was indeed a lost cause.
That feeling was also reflected by the museums we contacted, our insurance company and even other preservation groups were of the view that such a huge restoration job was simply not viable. All the recommendations we received suggested that we should simply just scrap this now sad and battered steam pump.
The Group however, were determined that this suggested outcome was not going to be the fate of the Merryweather Gem and a few weeks later, a glimmer of hope did indeed appear on the horizon.
Ian Grant, of Fife Wheelwrights, travelled to Strathclyde Fire & Rescue Workshops to view and give an appraisal of the Pumps future
Despite all the preceding negative comments by others, Ian was of a much different opinion and informed the group that it could be done. The fact that this was job was to become the biggest restoration job on a fire appliance such as this did not daunt Ian in the slightest. Ian was confident that the job was indeed viable and he was equally confident that his team could do the old steamer (or the Old Lady as described by Ian), justice and return it back to its condition prior to the accident.