Talk:Fire-float Pyronaut

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Fireboat v Firefloat v Fire Float

The description of the Pyronaut as a fireboat has been changed to firefloat several times. Wikipedia has an article called Fireboat on this type of vessel. If it is also called a firefloat this should be added to the fireboat article citing suitable references - and possibly redirecting any search to that article - unless it is in some way different in which case a separate article might be needed. A quick search on Google finds many more articles on fireboat than firefloat & does seem to indicate it should be 2 words or hyphenated i.e. Fire-float or Fire Float. I believe that a world wide audience would understand the term fireboat, but might not understand firefloat in the same way & we are trying to write an encyclopedia which is accessible to the widest audience possible.— Rod ^talk 21:05, 22 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Ah yes, the "ghits are all that matters" argument. If it "has been changed to firefloat several times.", then doesn't that suggest that there's consensus to call it that, as the boat's own history at the museum names it? Andy Dingley (talk) 21:12, 22 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Although I agree ghits are not definitive it is what is used by most of our readers & a quick (& dirty) check for "common usage". I'm beginning to see several people (at least 2) feel it should be firefloat, all I'm suggesting is that this alternative term should be included in the Fireboat article which would overcome any objections I might have. I would love to visit the museum to find out more about the history - when does it reopen? Are there any suitable documents (on or off line) which could be used to support the name firefloat?— Rod ^talk 21:19, 22 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Try the next few bank holidays. Although the council have managed to destroy the Industrial Museum, the boats are still surviving and operate on high days & holidays. As Mayflower is laid up sans boiler (hopefully to be restored at some time), it's likely that Pyronaut will be doing more of the special event trips than she might otherwise do.

Simplest reference is the information leaflet published (and printed) by the old museum. Can't find mine off-hand, as I recently moved house 8-( Andy Dingley (talk) 21:42, 22 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks for the extra paragraph explaining that a float is a special type of fireboat and why, but I'm not sure the link to Milk float is helpful or appropriate.— Rod ^talk 22:36, 22 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

"Milk floats" were originally a form of dog cart (which has little to do with dogs) that were adapted to carry milk churns. A churn is heavy, and any attempt to lift it up high is likely to spill the contents. So milk floats used a dropped axle and a very low loadbed, just above ground level. "Float" is a generic term for carts and lorries with this low deck (I don't know which came first).

We don't have any article of "float" in this sense, so I went for the nearest target. Change it if you've got something better. Andy Dingley (talk) 23:14, 22 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Merger proposal

I note that no action has been taken on this proposal. However the article Fire-float Pyronaut essentially duplicates this artcile, but is completely unreferenced. I suggest that Fire-float Pyronaut is converted into a re-direct to this artcile if there are no objections in 14 days. The merger banner has been in place for some time. Jezhotwells (talk) 00:32, 26 December 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Comment

This article is very interesting but has no references, some sections appear to be a close paraphrase of [1]. I agree with the merger proposal as it is not right to have two articles about the same boat. Jezhotwells (talk)