Thursday, July 27, 2017

Monorail toy


Pete sent me the above photo last week: 

Knowing you liking for monorails (amongst the myriad of other things) I finally dug out one that I was given as a present back in the early to mid 1970’s. See attached pic. Still works back and forward including the headlight. Not the quietest of things.

Was produced by Winfield which apparently was Woolies own brand developed in the  1960’s (see part http://www.woolworthsmuseum.co.uk/1960s-ownbrands.htm for full history.

Have looked on the web site but cant find an example of this particular toy.

I immediately stopped doing useful work and spent 20 minutes looking for other example and no, I couldn't find one either. Presumably this makes this a rare set or is it just that no-one else thinks they are worth photographing?

Even the monorail society don't have anything. Can any reader help?

3 comments:

Nick Brad said...

I've never seen or heard of one before, but that is cooler than a cucumber in a penguin's pocket

Chris Jobson said...

There's a mention of this set on this site, and a couple of pictures half-way down the page.

Huw Griffiths said...

The drive looks interesting - judging by the photo, conventional road wheelsets, straddling the rail (and presumably scraping along as they go along, especially going round curves).

Hardly hi-tech, but I guess it works (much like BR Pacers are alleged to work - and probably every bit as quiet).

Saying that, it was designed and sold as a toy / novelty item - so it was never going to feature the sort of differential that might be found on a full size road car.