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Antique toys

Antique toys are becoming increasingly collectable.  However, many of the easily available examples are incomplete and in need of sympathetic restoration.  All parts listed below are reproductions, aimed at returning your toy to a more authentic condition.

Transfers and whitemetal parts are usually in stock.  Cast iron parts are made to order.

Hornby pre-war O gauge

Hornby O gauge models were produced for over 40 years and many have survived.  Always seen as quality toys at the time, Hornby models continue to be prized by collectors.  The selection of castings here are the most vulnerable and have spigots designed to fit existing apertures in the tinplate.  These reproduction parts should enable many play-worn toys to be restored.  They may be fixed by riveting, solder or epoxy glue as desired.
  Material Price
  Tender fittings for LMS number 2 special tender (15 items):
8 handrail knobs, 2 brake standards, 2 tank vents, 1 filler, 1 dome & 1 vacuum pipe		 Cast white metal £8.50
  Oval locomotive buffers (set of 4) Cast white metal £1.90
  Wagon buffers (set of 4) Cast white metal £1.90
  Signal lamp (pair) Cast white metal £1.90
HTM5 Reproduction trademark transfer 1934-41 (5 transfers) Waterslide transfer £3.90


Victorian cast iron toys

Vast numbers of cast iron toys were made in the period 1870-1900.  A particularly prolific and long lived manufacturer was J & E Stevens of Cromwell, Connecticut, USA.  This company had its origins in the 1840s and was one of the earliest toy manufacturers in the USA.  Many of these were imported into the UK and some designs were directly copied by British manufacturers.  As these were played with by many generations of children, most are incomplete, with wheels being the most common fault.  Remarkably, the patterns for many toys, money boxes and cap guns remained stored in the factory after general toy manufacture ceased and many were rescued when the factory was finally closed in 1959.  We were fortunate to acquire a number of patterns recently and offer parts cast from them to assist collectors in restoration.  The following replacement parts are all cast from those original Victorian patterns, and so keep all the detail and correct size of the original parts.  Pieces can be cast using sand or lost wax according to purchaser's preferences.
As these are made to order, prices vary according to prevailing foundry costs.  Please email for a specific estimate.
J & E Stevens' factory
Wheels
For black powder cannons, by J&E Stevens:
No 7 artilliery wheeled cannon:  
6 spokes, 2" diameter and 1/8" thick 		Cast iron £POA
No 12 artilliery wheeled cannon:
6 spokes, 3¾" diameter and 3/16" thick		 Cast iron £POA
No. 1 patent breech loading cannon:  
6 spokes, 6 3/8" diameter		 Cast iron £POA
For Big 6 locomotive  / floor train, by J&E Stevens (c.1885):
Driving wheel 8 spokes, 2 3/8" diameter and 1/4" thick) Cast iron £POA
Driving wheel (alternative pattern)
Similar to above but 2 5/16 diameter and 7/32" thick, with a balance weight or web between 2 spokes		 Cast iron £POA
For bell toys, carts, vehicles etc
8 spokes, 2" diameter and 1/8" thick Cast iron £POA
10 spokes, 4" diameter Cast iron £POA
Other parts
Paddy & the Pig mechanical bank / money box by J&E Stevens:
Lower jaw for Paddy:  includes pivot pins etc for fitting to toy Cast iron £POA
Speaking dog mechanical bank / money box by J&E Stevens:
Base end (right hand)  This covers the rear of the girl's couch
 Cast iron £POA
Base end (left hand)  Rectangular panel complete with the word 'Bank' cast in
 Cast iron £POA
Ivy toy stove by J&E Stevens:
Base with feet (approx 6" x 4½") Cast iron £POA
Butting Match cap gun by Ives (c1885)
  Sliding rear boy figure, complete with spring seat & hook for trigger.
This comes in 2 halves and requires rivetting together as per the original toy		 Cast iron £POA
 
In addition to the above, we have a large number of smaller patterns that we have yet to identify.  If you are missing a part for your toy stove, mechanical bank or money box, please get in touch as we may be able to help.  Alternatively, if you would like a challenge, please click on the thumbnail for a selection of J&E Stevens' patterns we would like you to identify.

We are also interested in purchasing patterns for any antique toys, especially stationary engines (such as Frisbee's steam engine) and floor toy trains like the J&E Stevens Big 6 or similar toys from Ives, Hubley.
  

The Hornby trademark is reproduced by kind permission of Hornby Hobbies Limited.

These parts are intended for use by adult collectors and are inherently unsuitable for use by children as the original toys were not subject to modern legislation when designed.
If enquiring from overseas, please bear in mind that these parts may be manufactured to different legislative standards to those in your home country.
Whitemetal parts contain lead and other toxic metals.  Suitable precautions should be taken in their use.