Kirdon models

[Il Grifone]

1700

Archbar strictly wouldn't be correct either, having been outlawed in 1919 (IIRC) in the States. I don't think the GWR used them either apart from some wagons acquired at the grouping (Ratio's ex TVR MACAW G for example).The GWR plate bogies appear to be Nucro (I have a set under something, but can't remember what at the moment - they been under a scratch built MINK F, a Trix 'CROCODILE H' and a Tri-ang MACAW in the past, all of which have since been written off, the last two when better models appeared).

 

The kit sold for £47.99, which is not a lot more than it cost new in real terms.

[C.A.T.Ford]

I thought you might be interested in this loco. The only Kirdon 0-4-0 I've ever seen complete to band drive and Kirdon couplings. It runs quite well, however The paint is not original.

 

CAT

[5050]

See, I told you they actually existed

 

Thanks for posting this, it's nice to see that catalogues, adverts etc. do portray real things (at times!).

 

Any chance of seeing the chassis without the body please?

[C.A.T.Ford]

 

By popular request shunter with top removed. I added the flywheel but the rest is origional

[cctransuk]

Gostude's got one on Ebay !!

 

Regards,

John Isherwood.

[Il Grifone]

@ £84.50 - Not too bad considering....... (I'm not too sure about this however, "It is very well made ").

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KIRDON-Ks-KEYSER-MTK-KIT-BUILT-BR-0-4-0-DOCK-SHUNTER-DIESEL-LOCO-MINT-mv-/221141699994?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item337d128d9a

 

There's also a 'Super Seven' if anyone's interested. It possibly does not work properly, due to the use of cellulose acetate (or a near relative) in its construction - mine doesn't! (Mechanically - I doubt it's electrical safety after all these years).

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KIRDON-SUPER-SEVEN-MODEL-TRAIN-CONTROLLER-TRANSFORMER-VINTAGE-/271873245570?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3f4ce88182

Edited May 20, 2015 by Il Grifone

[cctransuk]

@ £84.50 - Not too bad considering....... (I'm not too sure about this however, "It is very well made ").

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KIRDON-Ks-KEYSER-MTK-KIT-BUILT-BR-0-4-0-DOCK-SHUNTER-DIESEL-LOCO-MINT-mv-/221141699994?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item337d128d9a

 

It's been on there for weeks - I e-mailed him to let him know it was actually from Kirdon.

 

Regards,

John isherwood.

[Il Grifone]

I wondered how he knew - I thought perhaps he reads our site........

 

Regards,

 

David

[C.A.T.Ford]

The top of the Ebay sample is original Kirdon but the chassis isn't. It may be supplied by another manufacturer clearing left over castings. The model I posted is entirely original because I was standing by my Father when he bought it from Kirdon at Central Hall. He would never let me any where near his layout and so it remained until he sold it all to start his business. It was only when clearing stuff after his death that I discovered odd bits in boxes one of which was the shunter.

 

CAT

[C.A.T.Ford]

The Romford wheels on my shunter are in fact Bonds wheels. When my Father was teaching me scratch building he bought a couple of Bonds chassis and they were fitted with the same wheels. They look very similar to Romfords but the square on the axle is a slightly different size, I discovered this when converting  my first two scratchers from outside third to two rail.

 

CAT

[river ewayon]

In answer to Coachman.' Why do "I" bother with all that crap'?

Easy. because some of it were models I bought when young and have sentimental value. Others are interesting from a historical point of view such as my EM1, Kirdon 10000, etc.

Others are kits I built or bought when manufacturers wouldn't dream of producing a WD Austerity 8 or L&Y Dreadnought.

That is not to say I don't buy modern stuff I like it all. Having said that I do feel that the market seems (and I say this as someone who's interest has laid dormant and is now rekindling his enthusiasm) to now cater for those that have money at the exclusion of youngsters on limited budgets. I suppose I am harking back to the 1970s when Lima locomotives were available for pocket money prices. Remember the price wars between Beatties, Railmail, Guy Norris and others? 

[river ewayon]

I actually got my Kirdon 10000 to work simply by stretching the coil slightly, shortening it and then re-soldering the coil together. Dunno why this should have worked but it did. I suppose it is the increased spring rate?

[PhilH]

I picked this up at New Milton show for the princely sum of £3. I don't know if I will use it on Bodgeor not, but it does seem well detailed, not sure about fidelity to any prototype.

It's made from a thin metal (tin?) and has a very unusual method of construction, being built round a wooden core. It has masses of rivet detail(again not sure if that's prototypcal or just the designer's flight of fancy. Ladders and grabs are separate items, all in all quite a charming model even if not prototypical.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 23, 2016 by PhilH

[Il Grifone]

These two just sold on eBay for a respectable sum

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kirdon-1950-039-s-10000-amp-10001-Diesel-Loco-Bodies-Hornby-Dublo-Chassis-See-Text-/351925519754?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D38661%26meid%3D0c065b25a28a4e39a197f421088f43c4%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26mehot%3Des%26sd%3D322355464128&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&autorefresh=true&nma=true&si=3tTQH4xAioVYhFdQLWfuYmkfd%252F8%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

 

and if you're quick you might catch this one (5 days to go

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kirdon-electric-diesel-electric-loco-10000/322355464128?_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D38661%26meid%3Ddaaa3a11e5bb431f9804af85805e5ce9%26pid%3D100011%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D201734808930

 

The seller says he doesn't know whether it works as he inherited it (lucky!).

I would think she needs a service at least and I feel there would be derailment problems without swopping wheelsets. No need to convert to 3 rail either and in excellent condition.

 

I'm tempted, but I don't think SWMBO would be....  (Too many trains! ???         ). The bidding won't stop at the current £22.74.

 

EDIT

 

Now £34!  as much as I'd like to be her new owner keeper, Grifone bows out....

Edited December 12, 2016 by Il Grifone

[CKPR]

Kirdon controller included in this mixed lot of Tri-ang and Trix:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tri-ang-Railways-R3-Set-With-R-52-Loco-Twix-Loco-Job-Lot/232272185520?_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140107083358%26meid%3D98b1b0f88c934cac859e060bd4961852%26pid%3D100011%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D5%26sd%3D172506228887

Edited March 19, 2017 by CKPR

[Il Grifone]

Kirdon controller included in this mixed lot of Tri-ang and Trix:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tri-ang-Railways-R3-Set-With-R-52-Loco-Twix-Loco-Job-Lot/232272185520?_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140107083358%26meid%3D98b1b0f88c934cac859e060bd4961852%26pid%3D100011%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D5%26sd%3D172506228887

 

 what's a Twix loco? Does it refer to the acetate 3F and it's tendency to deform in the sun like chocolate? 

 

Not a bad lot actually (the track shows evidence of acetate warp too), but I'm not sure it's worth £35 + 7.95. If the Kirdon unit is anything thing like the ones I have (other types) it also suffers from acetate warp.

[5050]

If the Kirdon unit is anything thing like the ones I have (other types) it also suffers from acetate warp.

An early example of Warp Drive?

[Il Grifone]

An early example of Warp Drive?

 

More Warp Non-Drive - the knobs have seized up!  

[BrushVeteran]

I have a couple of repainted bodies (10000 & 10001) in green livery, both differing tooling, which I am open to offers on if anyone is seriously interested, there may even be some chassis parts as well. I purchased these over fifty years ago as non-runners and the idea was to use a Triang EM2 chassis...................................but both Bachmann & Dapol eventually beat me to it some forty-five years later! So I wont bother now and really they are just taking up space.

[5050]

To bring this thread back to life I have been scanning again, this time the 1958 Model Railway News and have some 'new' Kirdon items for your delectation.

 

First is an interesting article about the company, its history and products, not all of them related to model railways at all!

 

Next is an advert for controllers and solenoids -

 

And the magnificent Super Seven -

 

There was a lot of advertising of controllers back then with H&M, Kirdon, Dyke & Ward and probably others advertising regularly in the magazines, all claiming the superiority of their products over the competition.

 

I have other ads from the same year that will filter through into other threads (K's etc.).

[mossdp]

On 23/05/2013 at 15:23, 5050 said:

Following my 1956 Model Railway News thread, here are the adverts for the Kirdon items.

 

The first full page one shows the availaibilty of the 2 diesel locos.  I think the comment about the 10000 loco now being produced in-house relates to an item in the magazine editorial where Kirdon apologise for late delivery due to being let down by an outside contractor.  The second full page ad doesn't mention the shunter but includes the motor bogie with the spring drive system.  Also note the 'digs' at other manufacturers of power equipment (H&M?) over the use of the 'Minor' model branding. Also, what was the Coupling they were advertising?

 

The W&H ad shows the English Electric '08' design shunter. Is this the same as the Hamblings one?

 

The last photo shows that the Kirdon diesel shunter did actually exist (as a sample if nothing else!) and the 10000 model is running on Hornby Dublo 3-rail

 

 

 

 

A picture here of the Kirdon motor bogie acquired recently in box of oddments with Zenith, Romford, and Exley coach bogies. Needs some restoration and someone has improvised a way to attach it inside a coach: