Hello from St Thomas, U S Virgin Islands.

kusuchi · Hello from St Thomas, U S Virgin Islands.

A warm, (82F), hello to all members of the forum.

My 8 year old son Andrew and I probably represent the entire steam community of the U S Virgin Islands. However, what we lack in numbers we try to make up for in enthusiasm! And we are slowly making converts!

I got my first Mamod, a TE1A, nearly forty years ago as a birthday present. Two years ago Andrew and I dug it out of storage, cleaned it up, and took it to his school's annual 'wheel day' running the Meths burner with Sterno.

By this years 'wheel day' we were running five Mamod mobiles and displaying the latest addition to our collection, a TE1.

The engine, packaging and acessories are all in pristine condition. It has never been fired and we're not planning on it.

We also have an early SA1, six spoke wheels but solid fuel burner.

Although the RS3 locomotive set was mint when I bought it, there was no way I was going to stop Andrew firing it and we now have a track layout over 70 feet.

We would really like to be able to accurately date the older engines and would appreciate any help members could give us on this topic. Are there any reliable textbooks that record the history of Mamod engines and give data on the timeline of changes made?

This 2007 SR1A challenger is Andrew's personal engine.

Boy, is this engine fast!

We also have a 2007 LB1

From what I have read on the web it would seem very few people fire this engine. We had no such inhibitions!

We are really looking forward to finally having other enthusiasts to share with, and can only hope that we can contribute as much as we will surely learn.

Regards to all.

kusuchi.

johnreid

Real nice collection there, I like the bus, but it is too rich for my blood.
Welcome to the forum.

IndianaRog

Hi Kusuchi,

Welcome to the forum from a slightly colder central Indiana where my thermometer is 78 deg. F colder than yours (4 Deg)....boy I wish I was where you are...went there on a cruise many years ago, delightful place for sure.

You already have a delightful collection...the bus being one I would like to acquire someday. I'm a relative Mamod newbie myself with just a few pieces, being more a Jensen guy, so I will leave it up to the real experts who will help you with dating etc. You will hear reference to "The Bible" and the "Online Bible"...good sources for ID.

Enjoy your stay, good to have you.

Roger

TRAPPERKEEPER

Welcome to the forums, I like the TE1 very much, I don't think I've ever heard of one in such perfect condition

And firing the Bus, I commend you! I have always wondered if it would move

Could you put a up a video of it running?

Trapper

Wallace

Nice engines kusuchi and welcome to the forums

Nick

from MN!

What is "wheel day".

I like that tractor, it looks like the early ones before rivets and reverse. I just bought one like yours on ebay tonight, but it has the rivets. If you don't want to fire it, try compressed air, it is still fun.

Manxman

Hi, another welcome. I also live as part of an Island community. The forum is a great place to meet other 'toy steam' friends.

I can see you already have great taste in your engines and I, like you, just love these Mamod mobiles. Just be careful.... the more time you spend on here, the more engines you'll end up buying.

As for dates etc. 2 options. Their is a book on the History of Mamod which is out of print and copies are now getting quite costly. When we see them, we tend to post the link and people get the book that way.

The other option, is just to post your pics on the forum. We'll all help and enjoy talking dates and sharing any knowledge we have.

Now, get posting those pics.

Les Marsh

Nice looking engines and

to the forum from Bournemouth.

mc_mc

A warm welcome from me too. A very discerning collection you've got there.

It's nice to see that you steam your engines that's what they're made for after all. They're not as fun sitting on a shelf. I just regret that I've got so many that I don't get to steam each of them very often.

tmuir

Hi kusuchi at hot 102F welcome from Perth Western Australia.

There are really only two books that go in depth on the history of Mamod.
The most complete is 'Mamod The story of Malins Models' by P.S. Malins ISBN 0 9529237 0 X
Its was printed in 1996 so doesn't have anything after that date in it and is also out of print but can be got off ebay, someone here I'm sure recently said one shop still had it in stock and hopefully someone will post up where that is for you.

The second book which is more general is 'Toyshop Steam from Brimingham Dribbler to Mamod Models' by Basil Harley printed in 1978,
ISBN 0 85242 583 X which is also obviously out of print but can still be found on ebay occasionally.

Welcome to the forum and good luck with your collection.

Tony

Cranko

Big welcome from New zealand mate, hope you enjoy it here

Sandman

Hi kusuchi from a wet windy and cold Scotland.

Welcome to the forum. Our international community keeps expanding and we're amazed at how many people from all over the globe enjoy our hobby.

You've come to the right place for any help or history you might need with your fine collection.

I hope you enjoy your stay and I look forward to talking steam with you in the future.

Sandman.

Griffin

Hello Kusuchi, and welcome to the forum.

An enviable collection you have there, and a very enviable Avatar

Your N&B TE1 is a beauty, and to be unfired is a real rarity.

Nice to see.

As for a date on the TE1, I would go with 64/65, as it has the later ribbed canopy, and red side transfers. If it has the bent axle steer type steering rod possibly nearer to 64.

Mamodman123

A warm welcome to the forums from mamodman

I would personally recommend Mamod The story of Malins Models which is available new from MSS for around £20. Also have a look at some of our members websites, they can be goldmines of information

Would be great to see the bus in action

Stay around.

MM

Steve_S

Welcome to the forum Kusuchi. You have some very nice machinery there!

Mister Occlusion

That TE1 is excellent! At some point I hope to pick up a nice TE1 myself, along with one of Mamod's piston valve mobiles - probably the SR.

Welcome to our Official 300th Member

kusuchi · More TE1 Photos

Here are some photos of the complete TE1 package.

Andrew and I were blown away when this engine arrived, it looks like it fell out of a time machine! The box even contains all the original packing.

Many, many thanks to all of you for the torrent of welcoming responses.

I'll post video of the LB1 running as soon as I figure out how to do it. Until last night I didn't even know how to post photos!

Griffin, from what you said would you now date the TE1 as 1964?

The avatar is Magen's Bay Beach, on the north side of the island. Sir Francis Drake used to hide his fleet in the bay, ready to ambush passing Spanish merchant vessels.

Nick, 'Wheel Day" is a fun event, hosted by the school, where the kids bring anything with wheels, bikes, skateboards, remote control cars and now...........Steam Engines.

Mamodman, please excuse my ignorance, but what is MSS?

kusuchi

barry1946

Very nice selection!

from Bonnie Scotland!

Andy

welcome to the forum

Nick

That thing is amazing!

It does look like it fell out of a time
machine. I probably would never fire it myself, but you should try
it on compressed air.

What did all of the other kids think of the steam engines?

kusuchi · Wheel Day

Nick,

The kids love them. The first year they mobbed the TE1A and I was scared someone was going to get burned!

Now I put up barriers, run the engines in large circles inside, and only allow a few kids in at a time. The London Bus was a huge hit this year and the speed of Andrew's SR1A Challenger always amazes everyone.

A lot of the parents have asked me where we bought the engines, so who knows, maybe we won't be steaming alone much longer.

Nick

Until their parents see the prices.

Mamodman123

Definately 1964 for me! You can see that by the earlier type box and the larger engine frame with the hole in it!

One just a year earlier would have looked like this:

That would have been one of the very first with that type of canopy (red stickers). I personally haven't seen better anywhere!

MSS

http://www.steammodelsonline.co.uk/frames.htm

You might have to drop them an email and ask if they have any

Griffin

Yep, I will also agree with MM, definitely 64. The old style box graphic is a big give away.

The extra pics really show that engine off to it's full potential.

Minor1PJG

Welcome from the South of England

You have some very fine engines and it is right to look after them as you see fit. I fire most of my engines but I don't have a LB1 so I haven't got the should I shouldn't I dilemma

kusuchi · TE1A

Griffin, MM, thanks for the dating info, most appreciated. Can I try you on my TE1A? I've owned it nearly forty years. Any particular parts of the engine I should include in photos to help you out?

Hi Minor1PJG, used to live in Godalming until I moved here 20 years ago!

Nick

Check this out:
http://modelsteam.myfreeforum.org/about3699.html

steamyjim

Welcome to the forum!

Does the bus actually move?

Kritika

See you made it at last Kusuchi, a big massive welcome to the Forum mate from Hampshire.

I would like everyone to know that I already know Kusuchi, as I was the one biding against him on that beauty of a TE1 a while back on Ebay and it seems the best man won…

Wow what a beauty it is! I will never ever forgive myself for not stretching for that engine in the last minute of the auction.

Well we swooped emails after that, and I suggested the forum would be a good spot for such an avid collector of mobiles. Especially as we just love pictures and even better now the promise of “a video of that bus steaming”

that will be a 1st for a lot of folks.

Anyway I see someone has already posted Manxman’s history of Mamod TE’s string - that’s as good as its gets on dating your TE’s in my opinion. By the way if you really want to see Mamod TE’s just look at some of Manx’s old posts and drool…

As for good reference books, try this link it has details where you can still buy the “Bible”

http://modelsteam.myfreeforum.org/about7617.html&highlight=

Here are another pair of good links, I just bet yours are “amazing”

http://modelsteam.myfreeforum.org/about7653.html&highlight=

http://modelsteam.myfreeforum.org/ftopic7504-0-asc-0.php

Keep posting and collecting… (Just not when I’m on Ebay OK

).

P.S. I just love the Avatar!

Griffin · Re: TE1A

TRAPPERKEEPER

Kusuchi, to upload videos create a photbucket or Youtube account, and it is the same as the process of loading pictures

That TE1 is the finest I've set eyes on

Good luck and welcome again

kusuchi · TE1A

Dear Griffin,

From Nick's post of Manxman's TE history thread I have determined the TE1A to be from between 1968 and 1972. Narrowing down from there seems to be the problem.

I have no box anymore, but I vaguely remember, (after 20 years), that it looked like your avatar. On the other hand the cornfield box also rings a bell. I'll post pictures asap.

Thanks,

steamgranny

Greetings & congratulations to our 300th member from such an exotic location

kusuchi · Kusuchi

Thank you Steam Granny,

The 300th member honor was one we had not anticipated and feel deeply honored to have accidently earned.

johnreid

After a long spell fo frigid temperatures I think we all should pay you a visit, we could have a Wheel Day of our own

Les Marsh

Well done on being the 300th member.

kusuchi · Member # 300

John,

You and everyone else are welcome any time you like. But don't think about coming without all of your engines!

Nick

Look at this, you had a thread about you before you joined!

http://modelsteam.myfreeforum.org...4.html&highlight=300th+member

Bingoswestry

Welcome from Shropshire, UK Sheep

"Birthplace of the first locomotive"

Great Mobiles !

CCairns

Welcome to the Forum, and Well Done on becoming the 300th member.

I like the TE1 you have posted here. Very nice looking.

I have one of the same vintage but sadly it is missing a few bits including the canopy. Not sure if you can retrofit the current TE1A canopy into a TE1.

Manxman

James

Welcome to the Forums to you and your son mate

toxx

H'llo, Kusuchi!

Kind greetz from Austria! Cold and stormy here ... I envy you!
Cheers, mate!
Says Tom

kusuchi · TE1A Pics

Posting photos of the TE1A to the Collection & Pics Forum. Will follow with the RS3 and SA1.

Trapperkeeper, the problem with the Bus Video is getting it on the computer in the first place. I don't know if my camcorder has that capability. I have a diital camera that takes short movies but the quality isn't that great.

TRAPPERKEEPER

Oh, right. Don't worry about it, then. How does it run? Does it have trouble moving or does it go right along?

Reid

Any sort of video will be greatly enjoyed by all here.

Another GREAT thread for our forum, another unique member.
And you take such beautiful pictures!

Thanks for showing all this so far. This was my first reading of the thread.

kusuchi

Hi Reid,

Already posted two videos under the Video topic, and more photos under Collections and pics.

Thanks for the welcome. Have thoroughly enjoyed being here, particularly the STIA coverage.

My participation, however, is going to have to become more restrained if my business is going to survive.

Hello from St Thomas, U S Virgin Islands.

More TE1 Photos

Wheel Day

TE1A

Re: TE1A

TE1A

Kusuchi

Member # 300

TE1A Pics