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Manxman
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Location: Isle of Man
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 Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 11:05 am Post subject: Wilesco Traction Engine |
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I've just got my latest addition. I only paid £36.00 for this because it was listed badly and came on a piece of wood. (it was just standing on the wood, slab now in garage).
I believe this is one of the first Wilesco TE's and must date back towards their introduction in 1970. The main differences are the front (old Smoky bit) which changed on the standard models in 1980. The fire tray (early ones just sit under the boiler and don't have a handle, now they have slide guides to help them fit snug and not fall out) and also, the early ones had a short canopy (like the Steam Roller). I don't know what year the longer canopy came in but you don't see very many with the short canopy so I'm guessing fairly early. Anyway for £36.00 a good model. Looks like it just needs a good clean and it should go a treat.
Here's a modern Wilesco burner and an older one from the Traction Engine.
And finally my 3 Wilesco Traction Engines together. I don't have a clue about colours (except for the red ones 1985-1995). Wilesco seem to have introduced variation in colour fairly early on and these models often remain in the catalouges along with the standard production models.
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Mamodman123
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Location: Midlands, UK
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| Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 11:09 am Post subject: |
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Not bad for 26 pounds! Is it meant to be that colour then Manxman? So eventually Wilesco changed the front of the Traction engine to one like the TE1a? Is that a meths burner? 
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SPOKESMAN
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| Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 11:12 am Post subject: |
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Looks terrific Manx - very purposeful. I like that!  |
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Manxman
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Joined: 19 Jul 2006
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Location: Isle of Man
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| Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 11:17 am Post subject: |
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| Mamodman123 wrote: | | Not bad for 26 pounds! Is it meant to be that colour then Manxman? So eventually Wilesco changed the front of the Traction engine to one like the TE1a? Is that a meths burner? |
£36.00. Yes I think the colour is all original and yes Wilisco (like Mamod) developed their engines and I guess that as their TE became more popular they could afford more 'tooling' for the TE and not have to share so many bits with the roller.
It is interesting to me that although Wilesco only have 5 mobiles in their range (Mamod have 11), the Wilesco 5 manage to be more different and have more seperate characters than the Mamods. The Mamod's are really only built on 2 basic types (SR and Roadster), The Wilesco's have at least 3 (SR, Locomobile and Fire Engine).
Final point. I dont think the Wilesco mobiles were ever meths fired. I think you'd have to break up solid fuel tablets and put them in the tray (like now) to get the model working.
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tmuir
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Manxman
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| Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 11:19 am Post subject: |
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| tmuir wrote: | I saw that, I think it was Te1a man that mentioned it.
Very nearly bid on it myself but was after some other stuff.
Wish I had now....  |
Sorry Tony. It does look like it is going to be a nice model.
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tmuir
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Mamodman123
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| Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 11:29 am Post subject: |
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| tmuir wrote: | If I remember correctly the seller just thought it was a brass ornament, didnt even realise it was an actual toy steam engine.  |
It does look like an ornament though in a way
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SPOKESMAN
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| Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 11:39 am Post subject: |
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| Mamodman123 wrote: | | tmuir wrote: | | If I remember correctly the seller just thought it was a brass ornament, didnt even realise it was an actual toy steam engine. |
It does look like an ornament though in a way |
Nah MM! You could say that about any toy steam engine in some ways. |
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Mamodman123
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| Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 11:41 am Post subject: |
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| SPOKESMAN wrote: | | Mamodman123 wrote: | | tmuir wrote: | | If I remember correctly the seller just thought it was a brass ornament, didnt even realise it was an actual toy steam engine. |
It does look like an ornament though in a way |
Nah MM! You could say that about any toy steam engine in some ways. |
Well i meant it in the way that it wasn't brightly coloured like most other steam TOYS! it doesn't look like a toy it could be easily mistaken for a display model, not a bad thing in a way!
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SPOKESMAN
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| Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 11:42 am Post subject: |
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| I think because it has no colour it looks less 'toy' like! |
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Mamodman123
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| Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 11:44 am Post subject: |
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| SPOKESMAN wrote: | | I think because it has no colour it looks less 'toy' like! |
Thats what I was trying to say
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SPOKESMAN
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| Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 11:45 am Post subject: |
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| Mamodman123 wrote: | | SPOKESMAN wrote: | | I think because it has no colour it looks less 'toy' like! |
Thats what I was trying to say |
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mj
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| Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 11:45 am Post subject: |
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Bargain buy manx!
It looks great as it is, nice aged patina to it. You're not going to polish it too much are you  |
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Manxman
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| Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 12:58 pm Post subject: |
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| mj wrote: | Bargain buy manx!
It looks great as it is, nice aged patina to it. You're not going to polish it too much are you |
Now you see that is the question. I think as I'm going to use this model I'm just going to give it a clean and light polish on the bits I can get to easily.
Then I'm going to use it. To me this one just wants to be used.
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