The Leeds Model Company

The Leeds Model Company, founded by Rex Stedman in 1912, was after Hornby and Bassett-Lowke the third largest model railway manufacturer in the UK in the years between World Wars 1 and 2. From modest beginnings the company grew rapidly after 1919, and with finance from G.P.Keen, moved from custom building into mass production of a first series of standardised scale model tank locomotives. The iconic 0-4-0ST was also introduced at this time, along with other enduring models, the ex GC 4-4-0 'Butler Henderson',cheap diablo 3 gold and 4-6-0 'Sir Sam Fay'. Two locomotives, a GW Churchward 4-4-0 County and Pickersgill Class 72 Caledonian 4-4-0 were produced for Bassett Lowke in 1922. The parts and tooling for these were later used to manufacture the LMC GW Mogul and the Pickersgill 0-6-0 goods locomotives. Other models supplied at this time were an LMS Claughton, an LNER (Ex GN) Atlantic, LNER 4-6-2 classes A1 and A2, and a Urie 4-6-2T. Early in 1920 and to reduce production costs, and whilst continuing to supply hand-built wooden stock, Stedman developed a pre-grouping range of wagons and coaches using high quality paper lithographs on standardised timber bodies. Keen backed out of the LMC in 1924, making way for Hugh Leader of the Bristol Model Company. Significantly with this 'West Country' influence, the first GW locomotives, a Star and Castle made their appearance in the catalogue. Stedman and Leader were uneasy partners in the business however, and in 1928, with finance from R.S. Moore, Stedman took over the assets and goodwill of the LMC and for four years ran the company under his own name, R.F. Stedman and Co. Ltd. His fellow directors, Moore and G.M. Simpson,cheap guild wars 2 gold took the company back under the former LMC style in 1932, but continued to develop Stedman's concepts and designs to update and further extend the product range. The Sentinel Cammell steam railcar 'Nettle' and the Brighton Belle Pullman rake of five coaches were produced, along with additions to the private owner wagon range and new 'button logo' lithos for the GW coach range. Probably, the most popular and enduring of the LMC models are the second series of standardised tank locomotives introduced in 1935. These six quite distinct models, of which the most commonly seen today are the LMS (Ex L&Y) 2-4-2T and the LNER (Ex GC) 0-6-2T, were economically engineered to come from a single set of tooling and dies. Moulded Bakelite coaches, wagons and vans were introduced in the late 1930's and were an immediate success. The post WW2 years were difficult for all model companies, no less, with its focus on '0' Gauge, for the LMC. Nevertheless the company moved boldly to introduce several new locomotives including standard 4-4-0 tender locos and a seventh series 2 standardised tank locomotive configured as a short 0-6-0. The models were designed for maximum cost reduction without undue sacrifice of realistic appearance. They were freely adapted to suit any of the big four companies and, later, BR prototypes. Train sets, both goods and passenger, were offered from the early 1950's. From 1952, outworked locomotives, made by professional modellers, including an LMS Jubilee, GW Hawksworth County, GW 57XX Pannier and Prairie tanks, aion kinah and even an LMS Princess, were also featured in the product range. These and all other ready to run locomotives ceased to be available after 1959. The product range was then more or less confined to spare parts and kits. Despite all efforts however, the company, by then trading as Ellemmsee products went into liquidation in 1966. Rex Stedman had passed away six years before. The Trust was established in 1983 following the untimely death of Rex Stedman's son Adrian. The Trust keeps the archives of the LMC, which had been held by Adrian and promotes interest in and appreciation of the products of the Leeds Model Co. A near complete collection of the Company's '0' gauge models is maintained in running order. The Trust also maintains a large inventory of both original used and unused LMC parts for locomotives, coaches, wagons, signals and track, and provides technical advice and support to those working on maintenance, repair and restoration of LMC models. A complete model railway delivered by the LMC to Australia in 1929 is currently under recovery and restoration. A book on the history of the Company is in preparation timed for publication to coincide with the centenary of the Leeds Model Company in 2012. idlt0808