John Crane Broadsheets.

Subject: John Crane Broadsheets.
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 26 Aug 03 - 10:19 AM

The thread about "The Wizard of Alderley Edge" started me thinking about the wonderful broadsheets that John Crane used to produce. They included songs by Pete Coe, Bill caddick, Martin Graebe, Bill Lowndes and many other authors, with the words and music and beautiful illustrations. They got a mention in a previous thread and I think that someone said that he had died. Does anyone know who has the copyright on them ?

It would be great to get them online somewhere, not only are they wonderfully attractive, they are also a great source of songs that were written in the 60/70s.

I can probably find a few, who else has got any ? - perhaps we could end up with a full set.

Subject: RE: John Crane Broadsheets.
From: GUEST,Peter Sumner
Date: 26 Aug 03 - 11:14 AM

Hi Dave
I have a bundle of John's broadsheets that he sent me in the mid seventies...They are stored at my folks place in sunny Cleethorpes...can't remember details...maybe "Donkey Jack Donkey" by Bill Caddick...I think there are a couple of booklets also...
I would be wonderful to get them seem by a wider audience...Methinks copyright issues are worth considering...
Does the originator of such material have any legal protection in this regard...I certainly hope so...
Cheers
Pete Sumner
California

Subject: RE: John Crane Broadsheets.
From: GUEST,M'Grath of Altcar
Date: 26 Aug 03 - 02:45 PM

I've got "Crawling in to Work" somewhere and a couple more as well. I bought them at Loughborough festival in the seventies.

Subject: RE: John Crane Broadsheets.
From: Hoblander
Date: 02 Jan 12 - 04:48 PM

I know this goes thread back a long way, but I have just re-discovered in the loft a set of 25 John Crane broadsides from 1974 and an additional one.
If anyone wants a list of the titles get in touch.
They are a fantastic set of illustrations.
Kevin

Subject: RE: John Crane Broadsheets.
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Mar 13 - 08:15 AM

Hi Hoblander - I'd like to get a list of the broadside titles you have. You can get me at - [e-mail]

Subject: RE: John Crane Broadsheets.
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 09 Mar 13 - 12:00 PM

I've got the King Sun (Bill Caddick) chapbook he did and a couple of Pete Bond sheets that I think John Crane did the illustrations for (though I'd have to check that).

Mick

Subject: RE: John Crane Broadsheets.
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 09 Mar 13 - 06:45 PM

I've got 2 or 3 somewhere, of trad songs.

Hoblander, if you're still about a list here would be useful.

Subject: RE: John Crane Broadsheets.
From: Martin Graebe
Date: 17 Feb 14 - 04:49 AM

Just found this and it prompted me to catalogue my collection of John Crane's broadsheets (See below)

I haven't spoken to John for many years but I know that he is still around and in the Midlands. One of his more recent artworks is the wonderful stage back-drop at the Black Diamond Folk Club in Birmingham - I hope that this has gone with them to their new venue.

I still have some of the broadsheets that John produced of my songs. Just a handful of 'Harry the Hawker' but a larger pile of 'Honiton Lace'. The reason for this was a misunderstanding between John and I which led to him illustrating a Buckinghamshire lace-worker rather than one from East Devon. A valuable lesson for me in working with illustrators and printers !

It would be interesting if someone could identify John's other broadsheets and chapbooks, so that we could have a complete list.

I also have some other collections of modern broadsheets, notably those of Barry Roberts, who was active at about the same time as John Crane, but working with a duplicator, rather than lithographic printing.

Martin



-----------------------------------------------

John Crane Artwork in Martin Graebe's collection

I have a number of John Crane's Broadsides and other items. Many of these were purchased from Peter Kennedy in the 1970s when he had his shop (The Cider House) in Dartington and had some incomplete sets and damaged items. Others were bought from John at festivals. And, of course there are the two that he produced for me of my own songs.


There are I have three collections that are in folders:

'Broadsheets by John Crane – Set of Twenty-Five songs' (Complete Set March 1974)

1. The Lowlands of Holland                        Traditional
2. Pretty Saro                                        Traditional
3. Our Budgie is Dead                                Malcolm and Carol Fern
4. A Wife for Sale                                Jon Raven
5. The Wizard of Alderley Edge                        Peter Coe
6. The Gay Fusilier                                Peter Coe
7. The Congleton Bear                                Peter Coe
8. Friar Francis                                Peter Coe
9. Joseph Baker                                        Peter Coe
10. John O' Dreams                                Bill Caddick
11. The Marbury Dunne                                Peter Coe
12. Fare Thee Well                                Traditional
13. Kilmarnock Town                                Traditional
14. Cowd Stringy Pie                                Traditional
15. Danny's                                        Johnny Handle
16. The Apprentice                                Traditional
17. Jack went A-Sailing                                Traditional
18. The King's Whim                                Chris and Toni Hicks
19. Harry the Hawker                                Martin Graebe
20. The Men o' the North                        Sheila Douglas
21. The Land of Three Rivers                        Vin Garbutt
22. The Starlings                                Vin Garbutt
23. Whilstlebitch Well                                Peter and Chris Coe
24. Blue Cap                                        Peter and Chris Coe
25. The Salt Tell                                Peter and Chris Coe


'Broadsheets by John Crane – The Cheshire Songs of Peter and Christine Coe'
(a set of eight songs)

5. The Wizard of Alderley Edge                        Peter Coe
7. The Congleton Bear                                Peter Coe
8. Friar Francis                                Peter Coe
9. Joseph Baker                                        Peter Coe
11. The Marbury Dunne                                Peter Coe
23. Whilstlebitch Well                                Peter and Chris Coe
24. Blue Cap                                        Peter and Chris Coe
25. The Salt Tell                                Peter and Chris Coe

The numbering of the 'Complete Set' is retained. My set is missing numbers 23, 24, and 25.

'Broadsheets by John Crane – Ten Songs'

3. Our Budgie is Dead                                Malcolm and Carol Fern
4. A Wife for Sale                                Jon Raven
5. The Gay Fusilier                                Peter Coe
10. John O' Dreams                                Bill Caddick
14. Danny's                                        Johnny Handle
18. The King's Whim                                Chris and Toni Hicks
19. Harry the Hawker                                Martin Graebe
20. The Men o' the North                        Sheila Douglas
21. The Land of Three Rivers                        Vin Garbutt
22. The Starlings                                Vin Garbutt

The numbering of the 'Complete Set' is retained. My set is missing numbers 23, 24, and 25.

In addition to these I have two broadsides that were not included in the above collections:

28. Honiton Lace                                Martin Graebe
31. Dust to Dust                                John Kirkpatrick

I also have two booklets:

No 2 Twa Sisters (arranged by Toni Hicks) (10.5 x 14.4 cm, 16 pages)
Eddie Baker's Muckspreader by John Kirkpatrick (A4, 8 pages)

I do have some duplicates of the broadsheets, including those of my own songs.

Subject: RE: John Crane Broadsheets.
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Jun 16 - 04:38 PM

You're missing The Band Played Waltzing Matilda by Eric Bogle.

John is still going strong and living in Wolverhampton. I'm his nephew by the way.

Subject: RE: John Crane Broadsheets.
From: GUEST,John Crane
Date: 10 Jun 16 - 04:30 PM

I can confirm that I am still alive and kicking and singing and playing.
I am also still working as much as ever though I haven't produced any Broadsheets for a long time.
There are some gaps in Martin's list but I can't give details until
I've checked back through the original artwork, which I still have for all of them (I think!).
I must make an apology to Martin for my error on Honiton Lace which I have only just found out about. There is no excuse....sloppy research!

Subject: RE: John Crane Broadsheets.
From: GUEST,Alan Whittle
Date: 11 Jun 16 - 04:22 PM

good to hear!

Subject: RE: John Crane Broadsheets.
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 Jun 16 - 03:36 AM

Are any of John's broadsheets available to view online, so we in other lands can get a look?
Thanks.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: John Crane Broadsheets.
From: GUEST,John Crane
Date: 15 Jun 16 - 06:41 AM

It's an idea that has been nibbling away at the back of my brain for a while.

Subject: RE: John Crane Broadsheets.
From: GUEST,Geoff Bibby
Date: 20 Apr 22 - 08:28 AM

There were originally 25 broadsheets in a pack, and an extra seven were produced separately. These extras wereThe Wind Witch, The Widow, Duet to Dust, Dan the Dustman, The Valley of Tees, Monition Lace and The Dead Man's Hand.

Subject: RE: John Crane Broadsheets.
From: GUEST,Cockney Colin
Date: 31 Jan 24 - 10:01 AM

I still have John Crane's Broadsheets. There were 25 in the first set that I purchased from him in 1974 and then a second set of 25 that I purchased in 1978/79.
Broadsheets 1 to 25 were listed previously in this thread and 26 to 50 are as follows;

26 The Widow               Andrew Clark , Miriam Backhouse
27 The Deadman's Hand      Toni Hicks
28 Honiton Lace            Martin Graebe
29 The Valley of the Tees Vin Garbutt
30 Dan The Dustman         John Kirkpatrick
31 Dust To Dust            John Kirkpatrick
32 The Wind Witch          Bernie Parry
33 Australia Bound         Ian Chesterman
34 Listen To The Moon      Norman Wheatley
35 The Iron Horse of Stockton Ron Angel
36 The Town Millionaire    Ron Angel
37 North Road             Eddie Walker
38 Birthday Cake City      Peter Bond
39 Poor Pig                Bill Caddick
40 Oller Boller            Bill Caddick
41 Cupboard Love          Richard Plant
42 Two Policeman and the Suspicious Bag Richard Plant
43 Tax Collectors          Ron Angel
44 Gypsy Without a Road    Rosemary Hardman
45 The Band Played Waltzing Matilda Eric Bogle
46 Now I'm Easy            Eric Bogle
47 Cleveland County       Rosemary Hardman
48 I'm In Love With A Gibson Girl Bill Caddick
49 P-Tarmigan and Groaty Dick   Bill Caddick
50 Cocks and Catches       John Crane