BUFFALO BILL

Now when a lady in her 70’s asks for some help, there is only one answer – & it starts with Y.

So waitematawoodys lets see if we can help out here.

Back in her teens (1942-52), her father, Reginald Morven Ellis, owned the Lanes built launch ‘Buffalo Bill’. The Buffalo Bill was the family boat & she would love to know if its still around & whats happened to her over the years. The photos shared with us are a little ‘ropey’ but with a name like Buffalo Bill someone must know more about the boat.

Harold Kidd Update

See what I mean when I say that “Lanes” is the default position for launch builders?
BUFFALO BILL was built in December 1909 by David Reid of Drake St., Freeman’s Bay for himself to advertise the fact that he was the agent for US-built Buffalo marine engines. She was 32′ x 7’8″ x 2’6″. David Reid also built WAIATA (below). He built BUFFALO in 1908 and BUFFALET in 1911.
Soon after she (he?) was built, Chas Chambers of Birkenhead bought her (him?). Jack Finlayson of Northcote bought the launch pre-1939 and changed the name, but it appears to have reverted to BUFFALO BILL in the 40s when Ellis owned her. Sorry I have no word of her after the 50s, probably a name change.

Update 16/12/2013 – photo (b/w) ex Harold Kidd of Buffalo Bill (nearer the camera) & Waiata. Note the boy on the cabin top of Buffalo Bill with a .22 to ward off orcs (or seagulls).