Mamod closing

[bourbon]

On their Facebook page. Another company with rising costs

 

[northwest]

The world as I know it, is coming to it's end. Incredibly sad, I associate the word Mamod with Christmas, they are almost interchangeable. Who doesn't remember their local toyshop's Christmas display, featuring of course a Mamod traction engine or Steamroller? I still have mine, still works, I get it out when the grandson arrives.
Always good for a bout of Tutting! :-)

 

[optima21]

yeah I read about this a few days ago, on this site

The Unofficial Mamod & Other Steam Forum-Mamod Closing Down in the coming weeks

Don't forget that steam engines can't actually be sold as toys for kids these days - too dangerous. They are more like collectors items for adults. I

www.tapatalk.com

I guess that part of the problem is that over time steam toys have gone out of fashion, and are no longer children's toys (with the health and safety issues of live steam), and there is now a niche market with adults collecting them, so sales arn't what they used to be. reading through the thread above its one of those companies that has been bought and sold a few times in recent history.

I went to the annual Steam Toy and Meccano show at Leeds Industrial Museum last weekend, so here are pics from some of the steam toys on display. I was with Bradford Model Engineers, and this was some of my collection of toys (and a three of the clubs engines running on compressed air)

we also had some O gauge live steam engines running (spot the panel work on the engines being made from old Castrol oil tins).

and other peoples toys

and of course on thing that has had a big impact on recent sales has been the banning of hexamine which means that you can no longer buy the fuel tablets in this country. I recently made a new burner tray for gel fuel, but it doesn't appear to have the same heat output, so the cars can barely run under their own steam. ( a new burner tray tig welded together with an original burner tray handle tigged in place)

and this is how the mamod engines are made

and if you want to see how they are made, there is the Mamod open day on 03/08/24

Mamod Open Day - RSVPify

- Mamod Ltd - 1 Summit Cres, Smethwick B66 1BT, UK

mamodopenday2024.rsvpify.com

 

[Smallfry]

Like most other kids, I got a Mamod traction engine for Christmas, had it years until it fell off a shelf.

Youngsters no longer interested in such things for the most part now.

 

[Agrismith]

Wilesco still seem to be going and tbf they are far superior models to mamod

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Wilesco still seem to be going and tbf they are far superior models to mamod

They are indeed.
The price reflects that as well.
They also have a greater range of items.

Mamod never really changed their items.

Sad loss.

 

[daleyd]

Like most other kids, I got a Mamod traction engine for Christmas, had it years until it fell off a shelf.

Youngsters no longer interested in such things for the most part now.

I remember getting one and my dad giving me some cotton wool, some matches and a bottle of meths and letting me get on with it when I was about 10

 

[steveo3002]

still got mine

 

[Robotstar5]

Wilesco still seem to be going and tbf they are far superior models to mamod

Still got mine and a big pack of the banned fuel tablets.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Still got mine and a big pack of the banned fuel tablets.

View attachment 459135

Just got myself that same model.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

still got mine

I still have my first one.
Blue Steam Wagon.



Plus a few more.

 

[Smallfry]

I remember getting one and my dad giving me some cotton wool, some matches and a bottle of meths and letting me get on with it when I was about 10

Yep me too. But did you drink the meths, and use the matches for cigarettes ?

At ten, one of my chores was to go to the local petrol station with a gallon tin, to get petrol for the lawnmower, no one even questioned it. Was not self service then though.

 

[daleyd]

Yep me too. But did you drink the meths, and use the matches for cigarettes ?

At ten, one of my chores was to go to the local petrol station with a gallon tin, to get petrol for the lawnmower, no one even questioned it. Was not self service then though.

Yep - I was also off up to the shop for my mum with a note for 10 embassy! Think I was about 8 when that started

 

[fizzy]

Such a shame to see.
Not applicable in this case but my brother mentioned the reason why so many British companies get sold off and split up. He had been watching a programme about Victorinox and how it has been in the same family for generations. They are doing exceptionally well and still making their stuff in Switzerland. Same goes for German with big family run companies like BMW and Volkswagen etc. Can't be done in Britain due to draconian inheritance taxes etc. Also tax on investments. And the governments are too stupid to see it. They hate the fact a successful business could be passed down through the generations.

 

[Agrismith]

Still got mine and a big pack of the banned fuel tablets.

View attachment 459135

My God father bought me the wilesco showman's engine as a christening present. It's still at my dad's on a shelf. Very very impressive.

 

[Robotstar5]

My God father bought me the wilesco showman's engine as a christening present. It's still at my dad's on a shelf. Very very impressive.

Would be nice to see a photo of that.

 

[JMS1972]

They are indeed.
The price reflects that as well.
They also have a greater range of items.

Mamod never really changed their items.

Sad loss.

Actually Mamod has released a load of new locos aimed at the garden railway market over the last few years .

They were all quite interesting but the build quality was err typical Mamod whereas the market wants something a bit more sophisticated these days.

 

[RWD3M]

Weren't the Mamod stationary steam engines sort of compatible with Meccano? I never had Meccano but did have a little steam engine. Loved that thing as a kid!

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Weren't the Mamod stationary steam engines sort of compatible with Meccano? I never had Meccano but did have a little steam engine. Loved that thing as a kid!

Yes they are/where. They even made 2 engins for Mecano.

 

[Migmac]

I’ve still got the traction engine and a stationary engine. They were good fun