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:

Sam Wilson 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"


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?

In message , at 08:24:30 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:

Sam Wilson 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"


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.

When is your first sighting on Comptroller?
--
Roland Perry

On Tue, 9 Mar 2021 08:37:02 +0000, Roland Perry
wrote:




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.

When is your first sighting on Comptroller?

As a boy it's the only term I can remember seeing, sticking in the
memory because it seemed an odd word. I'd guess around 1960, so not
long before this thread started in 2004.

I'd have been willing to consider the possibility that I'd been
mistaken if there weren't others with similar memories out there.

In message , at 09:51:40 on
Tue, 9 Mar 2021, Trolleybus remarked:
On Tue, 9 Mar 2021 08:37:02 +0000, Roland Perry
wrote:

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.

When is your first sighting on Comptroller?

As a boy it's the only term I can remember seeing, sticking in the
memory because it seemed an odd word. I'd guess around 1960, so not
long before this thread started in 2004.

I'd have been willing to consider the possibility that I'd been
mistaken if there weren't others with similar memories out there.

I don't think you are mistaken, but we are trying to establish the
timeline of when the job description changed.

Prior to 1949 it was "Fat Director", and the newest one I have is 1961
(Branch Line Engines, No16, a genuine first edition) when it was still
"Fat Controller".

In the interim, never "Fat Comptroller".

Did it perhaps go Director - Controller - Comptroller - Controller ?
--
Roland Perry

On Tue, 9 Mar 2021 10:02:52 +0000, Roland Perry
wrote:

In message , at 09:51:40 on
Tue, 9 Mar 2021, Trolleybus remarked:
On Tue, 9 Mar 2021 08:37:02 +0000, Roland Perry
wrote:

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.

When is your first sighting on Comptroller?

As a boy it's the only term I can remember seeing, sticking in the
memory because it seemed an odd word. I'd guess around 1960, so not
long before this thread started in 2004.

I'd have been willing to consider the possibility that I'd been
mistaken if there weren't others with similar memories out there.

I don't think you are mistaken, but we are trying to establish the
timeline of when the job description changed.

Prior to 1949 it was "Fat Director", and the newest one I have is 1961
(Branch Line Engines, No16, a genuine first edition) when it was still
"Fat Controller".

In the interim, never "Fat Comptroller".

Did it perhaps go Director - Controller - Comptroller - Controller ?

Maybe, of maybe the books that had comptroller were changed to
controller at reprint?

Could make an interesting research project for a bored person.

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.

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.

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