Bassettblowke

Note the description of the wheels as being finely knurled which to be fair by the standards of the day they probably were. I have some Bassett Lowke O gauge that could be described as having steam roller wheels.

I’ve been reading this thread with interest with a view to recommissioning my childhood Blue Pullman set, I am surprised it took so long for Magnadhesion to rear its head. Back in the early 60’s this train set arrived one Xmas and I loved it, over time the super 4 track needed cleaning and in my naivety I used wire wool this resulted (obviously) in a set of very woolly wheels. Using a more powerful magnet the wire wool was successfully removed, and much to my relief no damage seemed to have been done, indeed it still runs today. However I am not happy about the rutted cartwheels it’s fitted with and a replacement motor bogie has been ordered. Magnadhesion was of no use on nickel silver track and I presume this is why it fell out of use, if my grey cells are functioning correctly Lionel also used it theirs being called Magne-traction, how long for I’ve no idea but interesting to see it get a mention.

Wandering around a local charity shop I came across this little Tonka bulldozer which fits nicely in the well of the Hornby wagon.

If you intend to pursue an interest in LMC products David Peacocks book available from the trust is an essential buy, giving chapter and verse on LMC products over the years. The Dutch HRCA website also have some excellent pictures of Leeds models. Both David and Bruce Palmer are very helpful guys as well as providing those essential parts for restorations.

At long last I’ve managed to acquire a Manchester Collieries LMC wagon in good condition. It’s quite common to find problems with loose wheels on the axles and the degradation of the zinc alloy used for the wheels. This one is in excellent nick compared to 99% of my other purchases. sneaking into shot are two other recent acquisitions a GWR open and a Bogie van, the open wagon was also in very good condition and required no attention beyond a clean. The NE bogie van had a good litho but required re-wheeling due to zinc pest and missing wheels. The wheels were replaced with Hornby plastic wheels on shortened Hornby axles, new buffers all round and a replacement fabricated for a missing solebar, this was a simple task utilising a scrap piece of wood, attached with PVA and a coat of paint and ready to roll.

Another addition to my stable of on the cheap bitsa coal wagons. This one utilises my least favourite LMC livery, I think it must have been unpopular as they crop up fairly often. The running gear is from a late Hornby cylinder wagon and the couplings I think may be Bonds at least that was what was on the envelope. £4 for the donor wagon complete with brake levers and plastic wheels, the rest has been in stock for a while, the body was cut from left over ply. The red cylinders will find a home in the goods yard so nothing goes to waste. A coal load will be added to this one once I’ve pounded a lump with the hammer.

The damage to the litho is rather odd and I believe this is down to the prior attempted removal of a sticky substance (varnish at a guess) which had been applied sometime in the past. When first purchased it was very tacky to the touch subsequent experiments revealed that the litho had been penetrated by the varnish and attempted removal with a cotton bud with a variety of cleansers, thinners etc on a very minuscule part of the livery always produced an instant crimson lake hit on the cotton bud. However Pledge multi surface cleaner whilst not removing the varnish coating has taken away the tackiness and it can now be handled without leaving distinct fingerprints. I have another ongoing issue with a postwar B/L coach which at first glance looks like it has been wrapped in cling film leaving behind a distinct fractured plastic film which is also tacky to the touch. The Pledge also works on this to a degree removing a good 80% of the offending film and the tackiness that went with it.

Some pictures of further progress on this coach, the roof has had its primer coat and the first topcoat it’s awaiting a quick rub down and it’s final coat. The coach came devoid of wheels, bogies and the mounting points. As a temporary measure the bogies are spaced off the bottom of the coach by a column of 5 washers pending a suitable bogie mount being fabricated. The couplings have been changed and it now rolls quite well. As can be seen the coach sides show distinct signs of damage to the litho, I am undecided about whether or not to tackle it or leave well alone.

Fred That is an exquisite example and the roof colour seems to confirm what I’ve unearthed from internet searches. Several paint suppliers also specify light grey for MR coaching stock roofs. During the process of removing the old paint layers from the roof three colour were encountered, the crumbling white, black and grey. Here’s a picture of the roof stripped and ready for paint, my initial thought once it was cleaned up were to just give it a coat of satin lacquer as I was quite taken by the pewter/grey finish. I am now edging toward paint especially after seeing that gorgeous example.

I’ve recently acquired one of these carriage’s in pretty poor shape, the most obvious stand out smack you in the chops problem being the poorly applied repaint job on the roof. Not only is it heavily brushed marked it’s also flat and filthy, looking at it I suspect it may be old white lead primer. I’ve searched around a bit and so far every picture I’ve seen shows MR stock with what appears to be grey roofs, as always when viewing black and white photographs gauging colour or shade of colour is problematic. As a B/Lowke model does anyone know what the original roof colour would have been ? And secondly does anyone know what colour the full size coach roof was in Railway service. I also had a look at the Darstaed 6 wheel MR coach offerings and they are grey. Any opinions welcome

I also have never had any problems and have never been able to notice any difference between them. However that said I’ve never really been able to stretch them, all of my layouts being simple and uncomplicated with very little demand placed on the transformer and controller. It would be interesting to hear opinions/comparisons with more up to date offerings and whether this vintage stuff is still considered viable.

With my expertise in such matters I dread to think what I would turn up

Maico It does indeed, in the first chapter it explains the differing types on offer, being an electrical dunce I will copy the pages so you get the proper explanation. From what I can gather it’s just a case of progression, Variable Resistance being first on the scene followed by Variable transformer and then Transistorised control. The first time I read through the explanations and differing types of wiring I definitely needed a lie down afterwards. As you will see I’ve managed to post the two pages in reverse order, just a knack I’ve got I am afraid. The important thing to remember is these articles were written nearly fifty years ago and time has moved on even if I haven’t.

And finally for comparisons sake with Barclay’s earlier post about the ELECTRAN here’s a picture from the 6th edition catalogue which shows the differing spec and later casing style which was reflected across the model railway transformer\controller range. The Victor, Minipack and Matchless power units and the Imp, Superglow, Alpha and Glo-Worm battery chargers had their own individual styling.

Back in the day H&M operated its own service facility and actively discouraged third party repair thus I think you will struggle to find a Pukka H&M one, but never say never they must have had some printed for internal use.