IndianaRog
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early 1965 mint Mamod SR1I've had this piece awhile, but just got around to photographing it the past couple of days. Picked it up off Canadian eBay somehow evading Mr. O's radar 
Griffin helped me ID it as most likely early '65 given a number of features including: domed hubcaps, boiler held by two brass bolts & nuts on rear of firebox, single bent arm type overfill plug, pop rivets and instruction leaflet in the box vs. pasted on it's rear.
It came with all steering bits, funnel instructions and a mint unfired burner. It will be run as it's a quick favorite with a young grandson, but it is unfired at the moment.
Anyone who does not have an early TE and/or SR are missing out on some of the most charming pieces ever made by Mamod. I would have liked this one to be a N&Bolter, but it's early and exceptional quality...good enough for me.
cheers,
Rog
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Steve_S
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Wow, that's a nice one Rog! A nice addition to your gleaming collection!
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Les
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 Nice to see one in such good condition. 
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Kritika
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Rog that’s the most perfect one I’ve ever seen for that period… a real beauty.
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johnreid
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I need to get a Roller some day. You really got those wheels shiny, I bet the Sandman would approve.
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Wallace
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Great condition Rog. Both the box and roller look brand new
Good buy
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kusuchi
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Love it Rog, a real gem. 
I have a soft spot for mint early Mamod TE1's and SR1's.
That is a real beauty.
I have it's '65 TE1 companion. A hair earlier than the SR1, perhaps, as still all N & B. Unfired, (and will remain so).
Not even Andrew asks about this one. 
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Stitch
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Rog, that is lovely Fantastic condition. Enjoy firing it up
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johnreid
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Roger do you want to borrow my burner to fire it once? That burner is too shiny to use. My burner is unused too, but not polished like that.
I would gladly loan it to you for a month or so, as I plan on using mine so a little scorch mark or two will not bother me at all.
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IndianaRog
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Thanks gents...
And Richard...that TE is gorgeous. Believe it or not the more I look at the TE and SR that I have (both unfired), the more I am beginning to want to keep them perfect as shelf queens and buy a couple of lesser examples for running purposes.
This sort of goes against my "steam them all" philosophy...but darn if an unfired mobile isn't a beautiful thing!!! Hmmmmmm, gotta give this more thought before I light the match!!!
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rangerssteamtoys
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You seem to make every engine, no matter what type, shine.
Nice engine Rog
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IndianaRog
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Funny thing, I have done nothing but hand cleaned the 3 Mamod mobiles I have (OK, used a bit of SimiChrome on the wheels of the TE1)...but that SR1 looked like you see it after a quick wipe down with a damp rag.
I think some of the Mamods that came to the US and Canada (this was a Canadian one) were used (or looked at) a few times, then put into dry storage where they kept very well for a long nap. It seems the ones that come up on eBay this side of the pond are in somewhat better condition than their UK counterparts. Perhaps some got played with more in England and then left in a damp shed?
My TE1 came out of an English attic in perfect shape, so I think the key is DRY storage regardless of country.
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igy569
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Thats so purty...
I may have to see about a traction engine or a roller to be the next addition after I get another Jensen
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Manxman
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Oh I love it. The pefect engine. Nothing wrong with some for running and some for the shelf. I have a few shelf queens and I know that if I had that model it would not be run.
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steamyman
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great buy Rog, I have the same model. 
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Mamodman123
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Wow thats the best example Ive ever seen of that period, for sure! It literally looks like it was made yesterday!
I think your theory could be right about mamods your side of the pond. Maybe they were seen as models rather than toys? Either way it's done well to last that long and still look like that!
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Griffin
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Rog, as already said, that has to be one of the nicest SR's around.
Please tell me your secret in being able to acquire these lovely examples, as you certainly have the knack.
As for the steam or not to steam dilema, the answer is simple, box the engine up to your usual high standard, then address and post it to me, and I will decide for you. There you are problem solved
Seriously though, which ever you decide to do enjoy it, it really is a super example.
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Sandman
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Great machine Rog.
That would sit well in anyones collection.
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Kritika
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Shelf Queen Rog - for shure
Some engins are destined never to be steamed I'm afraid, its lasted so long as a minter why throw that away now.
I will send you an old one to steam so you dont taint that beauty
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IndianaRog
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It didn't take much convincing...I'm going to retire this roller WITHOUT steaming it...just too darn pristeen and high quality to run it when I can find a runner easily.
I plan to do the same with the TE I bought last year...Griff felt it too was a pretty nice piece and the thought of running it around on concrete just causes night sweats!!! I will keep them front and center in my collection as they have been for months now, and have just purchased a TE runner and will have my eye out for a roller runner. Rubber threads are coming off the queens and will await the runners.
And I once swore "No shelf queens"...trust a couple of pretty faces to sway my weak will!!!
thanks for the comments guys and gals,
Rog
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kusuchi
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| IndianaRog wrote: | It didn't take much convincing...I'm going to retire this roller WITHOUT steaming it...just too darn pristeen and high quality to run it when I can find a runner easily.
I plan to do the same with the TE I bought last year...Griff felt it too was a pretty nice piece and the thought of running it around on concrete just causes night sweats!!! I will keep them front and center in my collection as they have been for months now, and have just purchased a TE runner and will have my eye out for a roller runner. Rubber threads are coming off the queens and will await the runners.
And I once swore "No shelf queens"...trust a couple of pretty faces to sway my weak will!!!
thanks for the comments guys and gals,
Rog |
Good call, Rog,
My TE1 is my only real Shelf Queen. If I ever acquire a mint SR1 like that, then there will be two.
Kritika is right. The mint early Mamod mobiles are so exceptional they have to be an exception to the rule.
Marklin repros will get fired when the political climate is right.
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Atticman
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| IndianaRog wrote: | Funny thing, I have done nothing but hand cleaned the 3 Mamod mobiles I have (OK, used a bit of SimiChrome on the wheels of the TE1)...but that SR1 looked like you see it after a quick wipe down with a damp rag.
I think some of the Mamods that came to the US and Canada (this was a Canadian one) were used (or looked at) a few times, then put into dry storage where they kept very well for a long nap. It seems the ones that come up on eBay this side of the pond are in somewhat better condition than their UK counterparts. Perhaps some got played with more in England and then left in a damp shed?
My TE1 came out of an English attic in perfect shape, so I think the key is DRY storage regardless of country. |
Rog thats a great SR there,
My disccrank MM1 came from Canada, and its as near mint as you get, but most UK attic stored Mamod bases are pretty rusty, and the boilers are often well tarnished.
I am sure you are right about the dampness, and many attics (not mine though ) or just unheated rooms are damp as well It may be pollution related too 
My Dads old boat used to have brass rails on the outside, and we noticed they went almost black with tarnish overwinter (no not coal dust) when moored near to a coal powered powerstation at Stourport , BUT when the powerstation closed down for good the brass tarnished at a slower rate- this was in the early 70s i think- before acid rain/ damp etc was spoken about a lot.
By the way, if you want to get a brass boiler tarnished, leave it outside for a Winter- instant aging.
Thats why I never worry about spoiling originality etc by polishing brass- its back to tarnish real fast as we all know. Whether brass looks better polished or not is for individuals to decide. In the long run it makes no difference due to the tarnish.
Somewhere is a great thread from Reid about tarnish/ oxidation of brass.
Anyhow, sorry for straying, its such a great engine Rog and well spotted .
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Mamodman123
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| Atticman wrote: | | IndianaRog wrote: | Funny thing, I have done nothing but hand cleaned the 3 Mamod mobiles I have (OK, used a bit of SimiChrome on the wheels of the TE1)...but that SR1 looked like you see it after a quick wipe down with a damp rag.
I think some of the Mamods that came to the US and Canada (this was a Canadian one) were used (or looked at) a few times, then put into dry storage where they kept very well for a long nap. It seems the ones that come up on eBay this side of the pond are in somewhat better condition than their UK counterparts. Perhaps some got played with more in England and then left in a damp shed?
My TE1 came out of an English attic in perfect shape, so I think the key is DRY storage regardless of country. |
Rog thats a great SR there,
My disccrank MM1 came from Canada, and its as near mint as you get, but most UK attic stored Mamod bases are pretty rusty, and the boilers are often well tarnished.
I am sure you are right about the dampness, and many attics (not mine though ) or just unheated rooms are damp as well It may be pollution related too
My Dads old boat used to have brass rails on the outside, and we noticed they went almost black with tarnish overwinter (no not coal dust) when moored near to a coal powered powerstation at Stourport , BUT when the powerstation closed down for good the brass tarnished at a slower rate- this was in the early 70s i think- before acid rain/ damp etc was spoken about a lot.
By the way, if you want to get a brass boiler tarnished, leave it outside for a Winter- instant aging.
Thats why I never worry about spoiling originality etc by polishing brass- its back to tarnish real fast as we all know. Whether brass looks better polished or not is for individuals to decide. In the long run it makes no difference due to the tarnish.
Somewhere is a great thread from Reid about tarnish/ oxidation of brass.
Anyhow, sorry for straying, its such a great engine Rog and well spotted . |
Now there is something I totally agree with you on Tom. A few people spit their dummies out when old engines get polished, but they tarnish back in a couple of weeks anyway and thats without steaming it 
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johnreid
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A good friend of mine who was born in England once told me this, if its Brass and its British, polish it.
I think that each piece needs to have its own decisions made about. Some engines need to have the Old Age look and many get that look only by being old and used. Other engines cry for a restoration. I think it is a difficult decision sometimes, so if un the least bit unsure, err on the side of caution.
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Minor1PJG
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A couple of Shelf Queens is OK in my book - certainly for the reasons given. They've come this far without being steamed
It gives you a good reason to purchase another couple of engines, which is always good news
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