Mamod closing

[optima21]

and those that have got them should run them still.....no good being stuck in a box or on a shelf collecting dust

 

[Agrismith]

Would be nice to see a photo of that.

I rarely go to my dad's but this is the model. They still sell them.

Wilesco D409 Live Steam Showmans Engine

Wilesco D409 Live Steam Showmans Engine, part of the Wonderland Models range. Shop now with fast, hassle-free delivery.

www.wonderlandmodels.com

 

[Mick Annick]

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

Same with my mum, but sent to the pub which had an off-licence - just a hatch in the hallway, was allowed a bottle of pop for my efforts

 

[Dilkris]

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

Me to - HSSE never heard of in those days - burnt myself once, learnt, and never burnt myself again.

 

[Dilkris]

All of the above in this thread reminds me of a line from the famous speech by Rutger Hauer where he said - "All those moments will be lost in time"

 

[Porkypine]

Tbh I didn't know Mamod were even still going.. What a bloody shame anyway, I've got about 5 old Mamod engines of various sorts, funnily enough I ran the meccano version up only a few days ago.
I always use meths to fire them rather than the camp cooker tablet tings. No doubt they'll ban meths shortly
One of mine is the 2 cyl locomotive, a mate and myself keep threatening to pool our resources of 0 gauge tinplate track and have a run of it

 

[rtcosic]

I had the traction engine in the days when the burner had 'coton wool' and meths.
Nana had one particulalry thick proggy mat and I decided to keep adding meths until the 'burner' was full.
Traction engine proceeded to chuff its way up the edge of the mat and the rear clip holding the burner hit the ground and fell off. The burner splilled most of the meths out setting the proggy mat and surrounding floorboards alight.
Oddly no-one thought this exciting. Nana just threw a wet teatowel over it and left me to refit and relight the burner and carry on!

 

[seriesonewelder]

I've booked the open day. Thanks for the heads up.
Here's my Wilesco 'Old Smoky', got the trailer too. Had it for Christmas when I was about 13.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

I've got a Mamod steam train

 

[Jelly_Sheffield]

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

Is it something innate about the kids though, or the parents not introducing them to such options?

The current generation that are now becoming parents, for the most part were largely deprived of, and dissuaded from any real opportunities to do things with their hands, as well as being much worse at judging risk for it.

 

[bricol]

Time moves on.
So many other things available to take up time. There will still be some enthusiasts, maybe similar numbers to there ever was, but the costs of running a modern business . . .

 

[bletchmonster]

Are mamod parts going to a problem?
I was thinking of dragging out my much abused and neglected steam waggon and fettling up for some grandson time. I keep trying to keep him aware that there's more to life than football and idiot pads.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Are mamod parts going to a problem?
I was thinking of dragging out my much abused and neglected steam waggon and fettling up for some grandson time. I keep trying to keep him aware that there's more to life than football and idiot pads.

No.
There are many places that have enough spares.
Seals are easy to find, drive belts are the same.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Are mamod parts going to a problem?
I was thinking of dragging out my much abused and neglected steam waggon and fettling up for some grandson time. I keep trying to keep him aware that there's more to life than football and idiot pads.

Mamod Engine Spares Parts: The Mamod Guru

See Mamod spares and parts needed to get your Mamod Engine running properly. 130+ components on display.

www.modelenthusiasts.com

 

[zx9]

Is it something innate about the kids though, or the parents not introducing them to such options?

The current generation that are now becoming parents, for the most part were largely deprived of, and dissuaded from any real opportunities to do things with their hands, as well as being much worse at judging risk for it.

My kids are twenty one and twenty four, they were both introduced to my Mamod traction engine at the age of eight and eleven at a guess. The older one had absolutely no interest and just could not see the point when perfectly good battery powered toys were available, the younger one was sort of interested for one burn of meths but quickly got board. I think at that age they just want things to work with a flick of a switch, that said the older one will now spend hours or days painting War Hammer figures and models, something I have no patience, interest or skill for.

 

[Dilkris]

My kids are twenty one and twenty four, they were both introduced to my Mamod traction engine at the age of eight and eleven at a guess. The older one had absolutely no interest and just could not see the point when perfectly good battery powered toys were available, the younger one was sort of interested for one burn of meths but quickly got board. I think at that age they just want things to work with a flick of a switch, that said the older one will now spend hours or days painting War Hammer figures and models, something I have no patience, interest or skill for.

I find there is no sense in understanding how their minds work....

 

[8ob]

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

True, most kids these days are happy with a phone, swmbo’s nephew stayed with us last week and he spent eighteen hours of the day locked in his room gaming. Watching a train going around in circles wouldn’t cut it with him.

Bob

 

[Keith 66]

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

Me too, Still run both occasionally, a few years ago, actually about 20 when our lad was 8 (how time flies) We had a Mamod meeting at the yacht club, as quite a few people owned them. I seem to remember 4 traction engines a steam roller & two stationary engines turned up. They were raced on the dance floor in the function room &set running in big circles round it. Was a great lunchtime session!
A friend still has the scars from an accident with a stationary engine. Wanting it to run faster he bent the safety valve stem so it wouldnt open. The result was the boiler burst & he was badly scalded on his head by steam & meths.
The loss of hexamine was due to the fact it could be used to make certain explosives. But a meths burner should be easy enough to make.

 

[Smallfry]

My kids are twenty one and twenty four, they were both introduced to my Mamod traction engine at the age of eight and eleven at a guess. The older one had absolutely no interest and just could not see the point when perfectly good battery powered toys were available, the younger one was sort of interested for one burn of meths but quickly got board. I think at that age they just want things to work with a flick of a switch, that said the older one will now spend hours or days painting War Hammer figures and models, something I have no patience, interest or skill for.

War Hammer ? Now there is a complete and utter waste of time if ever there was one.

 

[daleyd]

True, most kids these days are happy with a phone, swmbo’s nephew stayed with us last week and he spent eighteen hours of the day locked in his room gaming. Watching a train going around in circles wouldn’t cut it with him.

Bob

We are off to see Pete Watermans model train exhibition at chester cathedral on Monday, not sure how my 8 year old lad - who hates anything not related to gaming - is going to make of it