Dapol4F-032-006 OO Gauge Wm. Butler, Tar Distillers of Bristol Rectangular Tank Wagon Weathered Finish
Wm. Butlers' tar tanker is a well-known wagon, its' photograph is frequently used to illustrate the rectangular tank wagon design.
These tank wagons were used to collect coal tar, a by-product of coal gas production, for refining to extract more useful petro-chemicals. Butlers' tar wagons would have travelled widely to collect raw materials from gas companies, particularly around the south-west and west midlands, supplying the companys' plants at Bristol and Gloucester.
The company originates in the GWR broad gauge era, Mr Butler being appointed by Mr Brunel to run the timber treatment plant in Bristol. Later forming his own company Butlers are still operating today as suppliers of industrial oil products like heating oil.