Harry Tate to mean shoddy or poor?

[david niven]

I've grown up using the phrase, "That's Harry Tate" to mean that something is of poor quality, shoddy or has been bodged, especially in conection to DIY. But where does the phrase come from? Is it in connection to the music hall comic of that name? Why is the Royal Navy Reserve called Harry Tates Navy? Is it the same meaning? Any ideas please. I think I got the phrase off my Grandad but it's hard to say as I can't recall not using it.

[don1]

One answer in cockney rhyming slang is that it means something is in a right state.

Thats in a right Harry Tate

[Azimov]

I was going to guess, rhyming slang for "2nd rate" but Don 1 is probably correct.
Assuming he isn't guessing too lol

[don1]

Actually Azimov I did find one site where there was the phrase "thats in a right Harry"

But you are right I dont know.

[scoobysoo]

Hi

I think Harry Tate is rhyming sland for a state

[scoobysoo]

Oh, plus I just found this:

A good humoured phrase applied to the Royal Naval Patrol Service. Harry Tate was a comedian from the 1st World War, well known for his motoring sketches. "Harry Tate" came to denote anything that was disorganised or chaotic.

[david niven]

Thankyou everyone, this last one covers everything. I believe that the rhyming slang for state is 2 and 8. This connection with the comic leading to the RNVR to anything in chaos must be why my old Grandad taught me to call anything that had been bodged or left in a mess to be Harry Tate.

Thanks everyone....David Niven