Gasworks Tunnel
 

In message , at 15:44:11 on Tue, 9 Mar 2021,
Sam Wilson remarked:
Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 08:48:09 on Tue, 9 Mar 2021,
Graeme Wall remarked:
On 09/03/2021 08:34, Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 08:02:52
on Tue, 9 Mar 2021, Trolleybus remarked:
On Mon, 8 Mar 2021 11:45:41 +0000, Roland Perry
wrote:

In message , at 09:44:35 on
Mon, 8 Mar 2021, Trolleybus remarked:
On 7 Mar 2021 11:02:37 GMT, Marland
wrote:

Sigh. Youngsters.

When I were a lad it wasn't The Fat Controller and it certainly wasn't
Sir Topham Hat (who sounds, not coincidently, like a character from
Bridgerton).

It was The Fat Comptroller.

Notwitstanding:

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/...AC_SL1184_.jpg

I have some first edition Thomas books (plus the one with Gordon in the
tunnel: The Three Railway Engines, the first in the series) and the
person in question then was "The Fat Director".

Book 2 "The Fat Director"

Book 3 (James the Red Engine) Arghh - This one seems to be missing from
***** my collection. If someone has an original copy from the 50's
***** maybe they can look.

But by book 4 and onwrds it was "The Fat Controller".

Gordon was rehabilitated in number seven of the series (published 1953)
the forward of which says:

****** Dear Ian,

****** You asked for a book about Gordon. Here it is. Gordon has

****** naughty, and The Fat Controller was stern with him.

****** Gordon has now learnt his lesson and is a Really Useful
Engine
****** again.

I wonder if Andrew Lloyd Webber was a Thomas fan.

That seems odd. Have any fictional characters had more names?

Were there different editions, perhaps regional?
Regional books - no I don't recognise that concept.

My memories would be from copies circulating in the 60s.
Mine are from the 50's

I've only one survivor from the 1950s, Toby The Tram Engine, he's
definitely the Fat Controller in that one.

That's number 7, and I've already posted that the name had changed by
number 4.

The only open question is what the name was in number 3.

James The Red Engine was my first Railway book and my first memories are of
The Fat Controller. Take that as any kind of evidence you like.

Sounds good.
--
Roland Perry

Gasworks Tunnel
 

Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 15:44:11 on Tue, 9 Mar 2021,
Sam Wilson remarked:
Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 08:48:09 on Tue, 9 Mar 2021,
Graeme Wall remarked:
On 09/03/2021 08:34, Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 08:02:52
on Tue, 9 Mar 2021, Trolleybus remarked:
On Mon, 8 Mar 2021 11:45:41 +0000, Roland Perry
wrote:

In message , at 09:44:35 on
Mon, 8 Mar 2021, Trolleybus remarked:
On 7 Mar 2021 11:02:37 GMT, Marland
wrote:

Sigh. Youngsters.

When I were a lad it wasn't The Fat Controller and it certainly wasn't
Sir Topham Hat (who sounds, not coincidently, like a character from
Bridgerton).

It was The Fat Comptroller.

Notwitstanding:

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/...AC_SL1184_.jpg

I have some first edition Thomas books (plus the one with Gordon in the
tunnel: The Three Railway Engines, the first in the series) and the
person in question then was "The Fat Director".

Book 2 "The Fat Director"

Book 3 (James the Red Engine) Arghh - This one seems to be missing from
Â*Â*Â*Â*Â* my collection. If someone has an original copy from the 50's
Â*Â*Â*Â*Â* maybe they can look.

But by book 4 and onwrds it was "The Fat Controller".

Gordon was rehabilitated in number seven of the series (published 1953)
the forward of which says:

Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â* Dear Ian,

Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â* You asked for a book about Gordon. Here it is. Gordon has

Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â* naughty, and The Fat Controller was stern with him.

Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â* Gordon has now learnt his lesson and is a Really Useful
Engine
Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â* again.

I wonder if Andrew Lloyd Webber was a Thomas fan.

That seems odd. Have any fictional characters had more names?

Were there different editions, perhaps regional?
Regional books - no I don't recognise that concept.

My memories would be from copies circulating in the 60s.
Mine are from the 50's

I've only one survivor from the 1950s, Toby The Tram Engine, he's
definitely the Fat Controller in that one.

That's number 7, and I've already posted that the name had changed by
number 4.

The only open question is what the name was in number 3.

James The Red Engine was my first Railway book and my first memories are of
The Fat Controller. Take that as any kind of evidence you like.

Sounds good.

And before PC intervened the term “Fat Controller “ was easily understood
and remembered amongst the Target audience of young children, that the
character is instantly remembered by quite a few readers is evidence that
target was well and truly hit. I don’t know when or where this term “ The
Fat Comptroller “ was used but it doesn’t sound like a term that would be
used for Children aged around 6 who will not be aware of the term

Could it have been a misprint on a few books that got through?


GH

Gasworks Tunnel
 

On Tue, 9 Mar 2021 15:44:10 -0000 (UTC), Sam Wilson
wrote:

Graeme Wall wrote:
On 08/03/2021 09:12, Basil Jet wrote:
On 08/03/2021 07:17, Anna Noyd-Dryver wrote:

I'm reminded of the quote about "The best drummer in the world? Ringo
wasn’t even the best drummer in the Beatles!" - though apparently it
originated in a 1981 BBC Radio 4 comedy show rather than actually from
John
Lennon!

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/john-lennon-ringo-best-drummer/

McCartney was such a good drummer that it's arguable that Ringo really
wasn't the best drummer in the Beatles.


I'm told that technically, Pete Best was the better drummer, he just
didn't fit with the other members.

Technically Ringo has an unusual style - he’s left handed but plays a
right-handed drum kit so he doesn’t necessarily play the same drum patterns
as other people.


Pete Best on the American b/w panel game "I've got a secret".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jw73eHvtv_I#t=09m49s

Gasworks Tunnel
 

On 09/03/2021 16:48, Marland wrote:
Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 15:44:11 on Tue, 9 Mar 2021,
Sam Wilson remarked:
Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 08:48:09 on Tue, 9 Mar 2021,
Graeme Wall remarked:
On 09/03/2021 08:34, Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 08:02:52
on Tue, 9 Mar 2021, Trolleybus remarked:
On Mon, 8 Mar 2021 11:45:41 +0000, Roland Perry
wrote:

In message , at 09:44:35 on
Mon, 8 Mar 2021, Trolleybus remarked:
On 7 Mar 2021 11:02:37 GMT, Marland
wrote:

Sigh. Youngsters.

When I were a lad it wasn't The Fat Controller and it certainly wasn't
Sir Topham Hat (who sounds, not coincidently, like a character from
Bridgerton).

It was The Fat Comptroller.

Notwitstanding:

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/...AC_SL1184_.jpg

I have some first edition Thomas books (plus the one with Gordon in the
tunnel: The Three Railway Engines, the first in the series) and the
person in question then was "The Fat Director".

Book 2 "The Fat Director"

Book 3 (James the Red Engine) Arghh - This one seems to be missing from
Â*Â*Â*Â*Â* my collection. If someone has an original copy from the 50's
Â*Â*Â*Â*Â* maybe they can look.

But by book 4 and onwrds it was "The Fat Controller".

Gordon was rehabilitated in number seven of the series (published 1953)
the forward of which says:

Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â* Dear Ian,

Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â* You asked for a book about Gordon. Here it is. Gordon has

Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â* naughty, and The Fat Controller was stern with him.

Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â* Gordon has now learnt his lesson and is a Really Useful
Engine
Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â* again.

I wonder if Andrew Lloyd Webber was a Thomas fan.

That seems odd. Have any fictional characters had more names?

Were there different editions, perhaps regional?
Regional books - no I don't recognise that concept.

My memories would be from copies circulating in the 60s.
Mine are from the 50's

I've only one survivor from the 1950s, Toby The Tram Engine, he's
definitely the Fat Controller in that one.

That's number 7, and I've already posted that the name had changed by
number 4.

The only open question is what the name was in number 3.

James The Red Engine was my first Railway book and my first memories are of
The Fat Controller. Take that as any kind of evidence you like.

Sounds good.

And before PC intervened the term “Fat Controller “ was easily understood
and remembered amongst the Target audience of young children, that the
character is instantly remembered by quite a few readers is evidence that
target was well and truly hit. I don’t know when or where this term “ The
Fat Comptroller “ was used but it doesn’t sound like a term that would be
used for Children aged around 6 who will not be aware of the term

Could it have been a misprint on a few books that got through?


Was there ever an American version?


--
Graeme Wall
This account not read.

Gasworks Tunnel
 

On 09/03/2021 08:37, Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 08:24:30 on
Wiki suggests the Fat Director was used for a couple of books. The web
is scattered with references to the Fat Comptroller but on Wiki Talk a
chap suggesting (in 2006) that the name Fat Comptroller was ever used
was basically told to go away.

Fat Comptroller clearly WAS used, as a search for the term will show.
I suspect the name was changed to controller many years ago as
comptroller was an unusual word and controller almost a homophone.

Controller seems an odd title and not in common (non-railway) use. But
railways do have control offices. Were those working in control styled
as Controllers?

I've posted evidence it went from Director to Controller in the early
50's.

The introduction to book 3, "James the Red Engine", first published in 1948,
(c) in this edition 2002, says:

Dear Friends of Edward, Gordon, Henry
and Thomas,

Thank you for your kind letters; here is the
new book or which you asked.
James, who crashed into the story of /Thomas,
the Tank Engine/, settles down and becomes a
useful engine.
We are nationalised now, but the same
engines still work the Region. I am glad, too,
to tell you that the Fat Director, who under-
stands our friends' ways, is still in charge, but
is now the Fat Controller.
I hope you will enjoy this book too.
The Author


This matches my memories of the books from the early '80s.

Gasworks Tunnel
 

On Tue, 9 Mar 2021 21:52:26 +0000, Roger Lynn
wrote:

On 09/03/2021 08:37, Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 08:24:30 on
Wiki suggests the Fat Director was used for a couple of books. The web
is scattered with references to the Fat Comptroller but on Wiki Talk a
chap suggesting (in 2006) that the name Fat Comptroller was ever used
was basically told to go away.

Fat Comptroller clearly WAS used, as a search for the term will show.
I suspect the name was changed to controller many years ago as
comptroller was an unusual word and controller almost a homophone.

Controller seems an odd title and not in common (non-railway) use. But
railways do have control offices. Were those working in control styled
as Controllers?

I've posted evidence it went from Director to Controller in the early
50's.

The introduction to book 3, "James the Red Engine", first published in 1948,
(c) in this edition 2002, says:

Dear Friends of Edward, Gordon, Henry
and Thomas,

Thank you for your kind letters; here is the
new book or which you asked.
James, who crashed into the story of /Thomas,
the Tank Engine/, settles down and becomes a
useful engine.
We are nationalised now, but the same
engines still work the Region. I am glad, too,
to tell you that the Fat Director, who under-
stands our friends' ways, is still in charge, but
is now the Fat Controller.
I hope you will enjoy this book too.
The Author


This matches my memories of the books from the early '80s.

That's a reprint. Has anyone a 1948 copy? I assume that reprints in
those days rarely altered text, but a move from comptroller to
controller may have been manageable.

Gasworks Tunnel
 

In message , at 09:37:36 on
Wed, 10 Mar 2021, Trolleybus remarked:
On Tue, 9 Mar 2021 21:52:26 +0000, Roger Lynn
wrote:

On 09/03/2021 08:37, Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 08:24:30 on
Wiki suggests the Fat Director was used for a couple of books. The web
is scattered with references to the Fat Comptroller but on Wiki Talk a
chap suggesting (in 2006) that the name Fat Comptroller was ever used
was basically told to go away.

Fat Comptroller clearly WAS used, as a search for the term will show.
I suspect the name was changed to controller many years ago as
comptroller was an unusual word and controller almost a homophone.

Controller seems an odd title and not in common (non-railway) use. But
railways do have control offices. Were those working in control styled
as Controllers?

I've posted evidence it went from Director to Controller in the early
50's.

The introduction to book 3, "James the Red Engine", first published in 1948,
(c) in this edition 2002, says:

Dear Friends of Edward, Gordon, Henry
and Thomas,

Thank you for your kind letters; here is the
new book or which you asked.
James, who crashed into the story of /Thomas,
the Tank Engine/, settles down and becomes a
useful engine.
We are nationalised now, but the same
engines still work the Region. I am glad, too,
to tell you that the Fat Director, who under-
stands our friends' ways, is still in charge, but
is now the Fat Controller.
I hope you will enjoy this book too.
The Author


This matches my memories of the books from the early '80s.

That's a reprint. Has anyone a 1948 copy? I assume that reprints in
those days rarely altered text, but a move from comptroller to
controller may have been manageable.

I've got 1954 editions of Book 4, 7 & 9 and it's Fat Controller in
those. (And in all the other later-printed books - apart from 1 [1954] &
2 [1955], where it's Fat Director.) It's a fairly convincing audit
trail.
--
Roland Perry

Gasworks Tunnel
 

On 09/03/2021 17:33, Graeme Wall wrote:
On 09/03/2021 16:48, Marland wrote:

And before PC intervened the term “Fat ControllerÂ* “ was easily
understood
and remembered amongst the Target audience of young children, that the
character is instantly remembered by quite a few readers is evidence that
target was well and truly hit. I don’t know when or where this termÂ* “
The
Fat Comptroller “ was used but it doesn’t sound like a term that would be
used for ChildrenÂ* aged aroundÂ* 6Â* who will not be aware of the term

Could it have been a misprint on a few books that got through?


Was there ever an American version?

"The just a normal size Controller"?

--
Arthur Figgis Surrey, UK

Gasworks Tunnel
 

Arthur Figgis wrote:
On 09/03/2021 17:33, Graeme Wall wrote:
On 09/03/2021 16:48, Marland wrote:

And before PC intervened the term “Fat ControllerÂ* “ was easily
understood
and remembered amongst the Target audience of young children, that the
character is instantly remembered by quite a few readers is evidence that
target was well and truly hit. I don’t know when or where this termÂ* “
The
Fat Comptroller “ was used but it doesn’t sound like a term that would be
used for ChildrenÂ* aged aroundÂ* 6Â* who will not be aware of the term

Could it have been a misprint on a few books that got through?


Was there ever an American version?

"The just a normal size Controller"?

“regular size�

Sam

--
The entity formerly known as
Spit the dummy to reply