The Unofficial Mamod and Other Steam Forum

Manxman · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 12:11 pm Post subject: Manx World Tour Table

Well I tried to figure out what I could do for the weekend and so I invite you all to join me on my world tour. A sort of "Around the Toy Steam World in 48 hours".

I can't visit all the place where toy steam engines were made but I hope to show just how many firms made mobiles and just how many different models are available.

I hope you enjoy my tour and a look at a few of my mobiles.

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Manx, the mobile man

Manxman · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 12:18 pm Post subject:

1) So I'd like to start my world tour here on the Isle of Man. For those of you who don't know where I live it's a small island (not even on some maps) between England and Ireland. It's total population is only about 80.000 and most of us live in one big town (Douglas).

Now, not a mobile (but it's my table and I hope you agree I can get away with it) but made here on the Isle of Man is this Hot Air Engine. It was made by a company called Davies Charlton Limited, Hills Meadows, Douglas and dates from the 1950's.

As it's my home engine, I hope you'll let me get away with it but after this I promise, it's all mobiles.

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Manx, the mobile man

Manxman · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 12:29 pm Post subject:

2) After crossing a small piece of water (very cold and wet today, boats cancelled but planes ok) we arrive in England and my first British model takes us back a few years.

Now this is a model we all call a 'Butcher' Steam Roller. I can't find anything about Butcher and become less certain about the name as time goes on. However, based in Manchester (and later London) just after the first world war (about 1919 to 1925) was a firm called Tribe and Astin. They made a range of mobile steam toys including Traction Engines, Steam Rollers and Yorkshire Steam Wagons. So as I land in England (direct flight Isle of Man to Manchester), I bring you a 'Butcher' Steam Roller. Hope you like it.

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Manx, the mobile man

Manxman · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 12:41 pm Post subject:

3) And now a trip to the south coast of England and a engine from the 1950's. This tractor was made by the firm Freeman and Brown based in Eastbourne. They traded under the name Passall and made a range of Hotair engines including this tractor.

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Manx, the mobile man

Manxman · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 12:48 pm Post subject:

4) While on the south coast of England, it's worth moving along the beach a little until we come to Portsmouth, the home and school where the great Kenneth Wells lived and taught. His books (Step by Step Metalwork) during the 1970's and 80's helped many a school boy make a Mamod (ish) Traction Engine and has helped bring many a smile to a toy steam face in the last 30 odd years.

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Manx, the mobile man

Manxman · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 12:56 pm Post subject:

5) Still in England and moving back in time again to the 50's and 60's, I have this little Steam Roller. Now many of us know this little toy, it was made by Mastrand and sold by Gamages (Argos of its day). It died out when the Mamod Steam Roller (bigger and cheaper) was introduced.

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Manx, the mobile man

Manxman · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 1:03 pm Post subject:

6) Now coming right up to date and a quick trip across the border between England and Wales. Denbigh, North Wales is now the home of Model Steam Specialists, MSS (used to be called Mamod Sales and Service) and they make a very fine Steam Lorry. This was going to be the first of a range of mobiles but only the Lorry seems to have made it into production. I've seen this model in yellow and Burgandy but the first colour used was this rather nice 'British Racing Green'.

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Manx, the mobile man

Manxman · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 1:10 pm Post subject:

7) Before I leave the UK on my tour, I guess I have to visit one more toy steam company. Mamod have made 11 different mobiles over the years (since 1961) and it's hard to pick just one to show off the company. But here is the Mamod Post Office Van. Only a few years old but a lovely model and I hope everyone feels an ok way to leave the UK and head for Europe.

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Manx, the mobile man

Roly Williams · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 1:23 pm Post subject:

Atticman · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 1:23 pm Post subject:

I hope we can revisit some other mamod mobiles by the end of the weekend Manx.

Will the plane back from America overshoot and pass through Birmingham maybe

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Manxman · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 2:01 pm Post subject:

Manxman · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 2:04 pm Post subject:

Manxman · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 2:08 pm Post subject:

8 ) And now over the water again but before heading for Germany, I'm going to stop in the Channel Islands.

This is a copy of a 1858 Thomas Aveling Traction Engine. It was made in the 1970's by a firm called Victorian Metal Models Ltd, 40 New Street, St Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands.

It's quite small, good fun and takes us on towards Europe.

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Manx, the mobile man

Roly Williams · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 2:51 pm Post subject:

[quote="Manxman"]

Jay_Minor · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 2:58 pm Post subject: