Collectors Corner Catalogue 1983

 

Operating from various premises around Euston station from 1963 to 1998, Collectors Corner, was a simply wonderful emporium for those who love train stuff. 

Set up to dispose of all sorts of railway ephemera from the entire network, I remember several visits to the slightly run down and disorganised premises, and loved every one. 

The catalogue, a budget-busting and tenuous addition to the Beatties collection, shows just what was available, and at prices that make me want to build a time machine. 

Wall clocks starting at £50 for a wooden cased spring-driven clock, to £300 for a large platform clock. Class 08 nameplates, £12, Class 47 £18. Timetable posters for 75p. Signal arms £10. BR knives, forks and spoons 75p each. 

Visitors would pore over piles of leaflets and advertising materials - I came away with a lot of APT material, including a tie, for pocket money prices in the late 1980s. On my paltry wages, while the much-desired clocks were outside my budget, but there was plenty of small railwayana available. 

I also bought a couple of the 1970s white plastic station signs, which had to travel back on the tube with me. At 7ft long, that wasn't easy, but well worth it. In 1983, these were only a fiver, 

Sadly, privatisation saw the business transfer to Hudson St in York, where it was far more civilised, and lasted a year or so. There will never be anything like this again. 

Please tell me I'm not the only person who remembers this place!

Beatties does Fleischmann

 

In their day, Beatties didn't just sell British model trains, they were a supplier of the foreign stuff too. In those days, modelling anything beyond these shores was seen as weird; it still is in a small way today. 

Still, you could go to your local branch and pick up catalogues to get your fill of German goodness, which is why I've acquired a few for the collection - 1976 to 79. 

Looking through, there is very little familiar to my eyes, but then I'm no expert on continental trains. Some of the models look surprisingly crude. I'd always grown up believing that Euro trains were expensive, but of superb quality. Maybe, compared to the UK version they were. 

One surprise was finding out Fleischmann made their own slot car system, with some rather tasty-looking German racing cars available in miniature. Well, tasty, if you like racing Porches anyway. 

Another find was my little red shunter, which appears in all of these catalogues, showing just how old the model could be! 

 

Beatties track and rolling stock

 

The Beatties collection continues to grow, more by accident than design. A couple more vans joined the pile from eBay, where it seemed no one else wanted them. Odd that the yellow Tri-ang open wagons still go for proper(ish) money, but the OO gauge Graham Farish vans don't attract the same attention. I've enough for a modest train now. 

They are sitting on genuine Beatties track. 

This arrived in a box of other stuff from work, with a note "To Phil from Nick Smith for the Beatties Collection" - thanks Nick, it's much appreciated. Mind you, the people I work with don't quite understand!

From Railex, a proper find, more Grafar wagons, with Beatties price tags on them. 

This pack cost a miserable 75p! I'm guessing this was in the 1970s, so inflation has taken hold, I paid £9.

As well as being a valuable addition to the collection, these wagons mean something to me. My first electric trainset was a Tri-ang 3F and a mixed bag of wagons, one of which was a SC Pritchard Grafar vehicle.

An odd find at a finescale show. All the wagons have been relieved of their couplings with a saw. Why? Unless there is a wagon diagram I'm not familiar with (feel free to educate me), they aren't particularly accurate. Something from the Airfix range would have been a better starting point, even if you didn't want to have a go at a kit. 

I've been pondering how to make best use of the collection. An online museum seems like a good idea, and I've been playing around with an AI-based website design tool from Ionos, my ISP. I have a pretty good idea how I'd like it set up. A database with an entry for each "exhibit", and a searchable front end. It's well over 20 years since I've done any development work, but in the old days I wouldn't have found it too much of a streatch. 

Sadly, AI turned out to be rubbish. Or at least the early results are. I'm using this as a learning exercise, and maybe it will continue to be rubbish, and I'll have to relearn some proper developer skills, or persuade a mate to have a go for me. Another "one day" project. 

 

Who keeps old glue?

 

A sticky addition to the Beatties collection - two tubes of plastic cement. 

Sadly, one has overheated at some point and turned into froth, sticking it in its box, but the other one is mint. 

I guess that these were discovered in an old drawer. Fortunately, the finder had the presence of mind to list them on eBay. And I was the one daft enough to buy them. Price, no different to a couple of tubes of glue, possibly a bit less. 

They arrived with a plastic bag too. 

Now all tucked away safely in the Beattie's collection box, they await me setting up the virtual museum. 

Can you believe people think I'm weird for keeping this stuff?  

This is why my collegues think I'm weird

Sometimes, work post for me goes to the office, and has to be forwarded on. At Doncaster, my boss handed me a jiffy bag that had just arrived in sunny Bourne. 

Inside the packet was this. A Beatties carrier bag, and a postcard.  

On the back of the postcard, it just says "Phil. One for your collection" - so I don't know who to thank, but I really appreciate anyone taking the time to pack a bag up, and pop it in the post. Even if the people I work with think I'm odd. 

It was not the only bag from the show though. I couldn't resist Anorak's Anonymous's new one. 

 

I know someone is going to shout "AI slop", but I think it's fun. Now, where's my bobble hat...

Airfix flick motor

 

"Would this fit in your Beatties collection?" asked someone generous at the weekend. I took one look at the price label, and said, "Oh yes. Thank you". Of course, I completely forgot to get a name, and even if I had, it would have slipped my mind in the chaos of the event. So thank you, random stranger. 

What we have is a "flick motor", a one-pole motor that will run, but not start on its own. You fit the motor into the nose of your 1:24 aeroplane, and wire it up. Then, to start the prop spinning, flick it with your finger. To stop it, just stick your finger in the way. According to the box back, this won't hurt. 

It's a very neat solution. No switches required, just some clever motor design. Presumably, Airfix felt there would be enough of a demand to justify manufacturing these. It's not like there was an alternative use in the real world - unless anyone knows better. 

Anyway, into the collection it goes. 

 

Model shop carrier bags

 Some people have greatness thrust upon them. I have old carrier bags from long-defunct model shops. 

Trains and Transport of Preston

Modelzone

A paper bag from G&I Models, Wigan or Warrington

A little Beatties bag

St Helens Model Centre

CDS Models, Warrington

 TAG Models, Doncaster 

 Finally, an Ian Allan bag from Waterloo

What a collection! Thanks very much, John J on RMweb. These are now carefully folded in the box with all the Beatties stuff. When I looked through these at the NEC, with members of the trade panel, there were some who remembered these shops - wonderful nostalgia!

My own little Beatties

 

Finally, I can add a complete shop to my Beatties collection!

When I say complete, I mean a frontage. And it's in N gauge. However, this 9cm long version still has a place in the collection. 

According to the box, this is a "Low Relief High Street Store". Produced by Graham Farish as part of the Scenecraft range, I'm not surprised the store is a Beatties. I'm sure it was influenced by Bachmann Europe CEO David Haarhaus, who worked in the store earlier in his career, and has a firm belief in the value of physical model shops. 

Perhaps I need to have a 2mm scale Phil printed, so I can go in and browse. Maybe with some 2mm money to finally be able to buy all the good things on the shelves!

 

Stamford Haul

 

I stuck gold at Stamford. Rooting around a box where the second-hand stall were just looking for a few pence donations, there were some plastic trees in a bag. I didn't want the trees, but the bag is a flimsy, small Beatties carrier - properly rare as viturally all of them will have been thrown away. OK, you can say they are probably still all in landfill, and will be for thousands of years, but that's too depressing a thought, and anyway, I'm not going to dig through a rubbish dump looking...

As well as the bag, I also scored a couple of the branded Hornby wagons for less than a fiver each. Not bad for Sunday morning, when the locusts had already enjoyed picking through it for a day...

While digging, I found a few packets of plastic details - tools, pallets, sacks and barrels, that are worth grabbing for pennies as they are always useful. The Gem kit cost a pound - and reminded me of the days when these were marketed as "Pound Packs"

The Kibri bufferstop is a buried type that offers a variety from the Peco version. A couple of Monty's Models figures came from Rich Wilson's charity clearout, and I'll always add these to the people pot, as they are superb models.

Finally, a little box too cheap to warrant opening. I know of the old Graham Farish buildings made up of plastic boxes, covered with stickers, but I don't think I've ever had a go. Well, now I can. I wonder if our N gaugers want a couple of houses?

Beatties Book of Boats

 

Another item for the collection, this time Beatties catalogue of model boat kits. Plenty in here that is still available in one from or another, although I'm not sure about the miriad galleon kits. Steingraeber certainly seems to have disappeared.

More on Eezebuilt Boat kits here.

The pages are clickable for a closer look. No idea when this was published, it appears to be an in-house job, so no copyright date.

Another Beatties bag

 

The rest of the team on the BRM stand look at me like I'm weird, when some top person (sorry, didn't get a name) appears on the stand at Ally Pally to hand me a bright yellow carrier bag. Regular readers though, will know that this makes me very happy. Another one for the collection!

This must date from the height of the Beatties Empire, as there are a lot of stores listed. I'm particually fascinated by "Leisureworld, 2 High Friars, Eldon Sq, Newscastle" - was this a shopping centre? The internet is strangely silent on the topic. Sounds fun though.

Beatties for live steam!

Mamod has a new owner, we covered this in Garden Rail last month, but by coincidence, I found this Beatties leaflet on the RCTS stand at a show for 50p a few weeks ago. Just think, all these models are still available. You can even get spares for them!

Beatties 16 ton mineral wagon

 

File this in the "how come I've not posted about this before" group. Answering a question on RMweb last week, I assumed I'd have a photo of the classic, yellow, Beatties wagon online, but I didn't. Shear bloodymindedness made me dig out a couple, and take the picture above. And so, I'm putting it here, so I can find it in future. 

According to Ramsay's Guide, R244, was produced in 1973 as a special edition of 3000. The address of four stores were branded into the side using a technique called "heat printing", leaving them slightly proud of the surface. The guide suggests a tenner for the value, and I don't think this has changed much in years. I don't think I've paid that much, but then I'll sit and wait for these things. If you really must have one now, ebay can probably sort you out for this sort of cash. Boxed examples cost a little more. 

It's such a shame all the shops have gone. It would be fun to photograph a wagon in front of each now though. A project for the future perhaps.

Hornby watch

 

I've been too busy for any personal modelling for the last few days, so this week's blog posts are going to be a bit of a catch-up of other stuff. Mostly weird things I've aquired recently, some of which are a bit of a mystery. 

Let's start with an item that fits into two of my collections - a Hornby watch. 

The 30mm diameter faux gold face is attractive, adorned as it is with a picture of a steam train from a 1990s clipart CD. Despite this, it looks a little classy in black and gold. The numerals are nice and clear, and a genuine leather strap is fitted. You could wear this every day and it would do its job. 

OK, the battery was flat, but an AG4 from the pound shop pack solved that. The plastic face-cover is even present, although I removed it for the photo. Don't worry, I put it back. There's a nice fabric wallet to keep the watch in when not wearing it too. This probably explains the excellent condition.

Best of all though, on the back is a Beatties label! It came from my favourite chain of model shops - and so can sit in this collection too. 

Sadly, the label doesn't indicate the price, or give me an idea of the age (1998?, surely too late) of the watch. I'd guess at early 1990s, possibly even a bit before. 

The internet is a bit light on details, although one forum has an idential watch sharing space with Rolex's! I suspect that the fiver I paid is about its true value, but if someone wants to tell me it's super-rare and worth the price of a house, I'm all ears!

Beatties paper bags

 

Another excellent addition to the Beatties collection - three paper bags thanks to Ian on RMweb who spotted I was a bit of a fan and decided to clear out a cupboard. 

These are the first paper bags in the collection, all the others being plastic. From the typeface, I'd date them as 1960s, so one of my earlier exhibits too. I love the "Pastimes" gets to be a bullet point but am curious who decided it should be above trains and boats - surely those would be the bigger sellers?

Bradford Model Railway (Manchester) Centre bag

Would you like an old plastic bag from a model shop? 

Of course I would. 

Just around the corner from a Wimpy - can things get any better? 

The Bradford shop closed in 2006, but by then it had become "Frizinghall Models & Railways" to avoid confusion with the owners shops in Huddersfield, and Leeds as well as Manchester, and the closure was due to a move to an industial unit. 

FMR still exist an can be found here. 

 

Taylor & McKenna bags

 

Some great post arrives - a package containing a load of old model railway catalogues which we'll look at another day, and the prize - two Taylor & McKenna bags. 

Old readers might look at these and recognise the family resemblance to the yellow carried bags of the wonderful chain of model shops - Beatties.  

I didn't know that there were specific T&M bags, when they were absorbed by the rest of the chain, surely they should have been re-branded? Obviously not. 

I remember the Banbury shop, but an sure it had become Beatties by the time I knew it. 

Still, two more prize exhibits for my collection. One day, I'll find the time to put it online, but for the moment you'll just have to put up with me going on about it here. Does anyone else collect old modelshop memorabilia, or just me?

Rare!

 

Thanks to Hugh Freeman for this unexpected addition to my Beatties collection. An unopened packet of track pins, complete with price ticket!

I don't know how old these are, but the same item from Hornby is now £3.45 (RRP) so inflation has definitely taken hold. 

The thing is, these are properly rare. I bet there are more Hornby O gauge Duchesses then packed of Beatties track pins. Let's face it, you didn't buy the pins for fun, so most packets would be ripped open as soon as you got home and pushed firmly into the Sundeala.

Railmail wagon

One for the extinct model shops collection - a Graham Farish OO gauge wagon in Railmail livery.

Younger modellers will be surprised that Grafar produced in OO, the name now being attached to N gauge exclusively. They did, producing locos (including a Black 5 with an amazing mechanism in the tender), coaches and wagons.

According to the Interweb, Railmail was the biggest model railway mail-order box-shifters in the late 1970s and early 80s but went bust in 1986.

Can anyone confirm this?  Other than seeing adverts in old magazines, I don't remember the firm at all but would like to know more. 

The return of the Handyman Hall Railway

For the Leamington Show, I dug The Handyman Hall railway out of storage. Despite not having seen the light of day for at least 5 years, it is looking pretty good. One loose figure and some discoloured varnish were all the problems found. 

The figure was quickly glued in place, the varnish issue ignored (I pretend it's a running water effect if asked) and after a quick track clean, it was good to go. Testing showed that an L&B loco didn't have a chance on the tight curves, but any of my 4-wheel models were fine. 

 

Power came from a  Beatties controller which apart from a slightly sloppy direction switch, works perfectly still. Plenty of God's own DC available all weekend.  

An amusing moment came when a youngster picked me up on the rescue boat. He identified an RNLI D Class lifeboat and pointed out it would only be used offshore. I excused myself by saying it was a lifeboat day and they were demonstrating it. 

Actually, the model is a pencil topper which isn't a bad match for 4mm scale figures, if a little short. It's bright orange though, so I like it.