Leeds Model Company
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Although this site is dedicated to Hornby products and the Dutch HRCA, most of its members have a wider-ranging interest in vintage model trains and are TCS-members too. These pages are dedicated the standard catalogue products of the Leeds Model Company, and show some items from the collection of Peter Zwakhals and the collection of Hans van Dissel. The Leeds Model Company ('LMC' or 'Leeds') originated in 1912 with Rex Stedman. The company started with a range of die cast parts for signals, rolling stock and locomotives. LMC were best known for their large range of locomotives, from freelance to exhibition-class specimens, as well as coaches and wagons made from wood with applied paper lithography. Starting from the late 30's, coaches as well as wagons were made from bakelite. Rex Stedman left LMC in 1928 to found a new company under the name of R.F. Stedman & Co. He later purchased the LMC company, continuing to trade under the R.F. Stedman name. Stedman finally left in 1931, when the name reverted to Leeds Model Company. In 1953, Leeds Model Company became Ellemsee Accessories. The company survived until 1966.
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LO/109: Freelance L.N.E.R. 4-4-0 Tank in black. 6-8 volts D.C., 1925-32. A loco from the first series of standard tanks by LMC. The first series was made from 1920 until 1932. The concept of Rex Stedman was to produce a near scale product from a recognisable prototype. He tried to make the widest possible range at minimum costs. He achieved this by re-using most of the standard parts from the LMC range. |
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LO/111: Freelance G.W. 4-4-0 Tank in green. 6-8 volts D.C., 1925-32. Note the difference in chimney, dome and safety valve from the L.N.E.R. version above. This was the way in which Stedman succeeded in giving his standard design the characteristic and looks of the engines of the several railway companies (Hans van Dissel collection). |
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LA/12: L.N.E.R. 0-6-2 Tank (G.C. section) in pre-war, red lined, black. This is the 20 volts A.C. version. In 1935 the second series of standard tanks came on the market. Some of the range, albeit in kit form, survived until the company finally ceased trading in 1966. These locos were nearer to scale than the first series. They are the products for which LMC is best remembered. |
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LD/12: L.N.E.R. 0-6-2 Tank (G.C. section) in post-war, black and white lined, green. 12 volts D.C. (Hans van Dissel collection). |
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LD/21: L.M.S. 2-4-2 Tank (L.& Y. section) in post-war, unlined, black. 12 volts D.C. |
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LD/15: L.M.S. 0-6-0 Tank in post-war, unlined, black. 12 volts D.C. After WWII a seventh model was introduced in the standard series tanks. The model was close to a 'Jinty' tank. This loco was made in black for L.M.S. and B.R., green and yellow for S.R. and green and black for the L.N.E.R. |
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LD/50/S: Freelance L.M.S. 4-4-0 Tender locomotive in post-war, white lined, black. 12 volts D.C. This is the version with outside cylinders and smoke apparatus. |
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LD/50: Freelance L.M.S. 4-4-0 Tender locomotive in post-war, white lined, black. 12 volts D.C. (Hans van Dissel collection). |
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One of the most distinctive of the freelance models was the 0-4-0 Saddle Tank Locomotive. This became the longest lived model in the LMC range, being available for over 40 years starting from the early 20's. On the right a L.N.E.R. 0-4-0 Saddle Tank (LD/160) in pre-war black. Next a L.M.S. 0-4-0 Saddle Tank (LD/10) in post-war black and a G.W. 0-4-0 Saddle Tank (LD/10/S) in post-war green with smoke unit. |
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Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. On the left is a pre-war L.M.S. 0-4-0 Saddle Tank (LD/161), on the right the post-war B.R. version, fitted with outside cylinders and a smoke unit (LD/10/S). In the middle is a Japanese copy from the thirties, made by Seki and sold in Great Britain as Stronlite. The toolbox of the LMC models has been heightened on the Stronlite to make room for the electric motor. Note how on the Stronlite the driving gears double as the wheel flanges; the wheels are also much more coarse scale than those on the LMC locos (Hans van Dissel collection). |
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SC/1: L.N.E.R. Sentinel-Cammell Rail Car 'Nettle', running No. 233, 1930-1959. Just before Rex Stedman left LMC in 1930, he designed the L.N.E.R. Sentinel-Cammell steam rail car. This loco was made from 1935 until the 50's. The body of the model is made of wood. |
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DB/1: The power bogie for the railcar was a standard 12 volts D.C. Electric Motor Bogie. It was also used to power the Brighton Belle. |
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L/12: Constructional Set No. 11 Kit of the L.N.E.R. 0-6-2 tank body from the second series and made under the 'Ellemsee' name, dating it post-1953. L/49: Constructional Set No. 19A (right). Complete set of metal parts and castings to produce a 6-wheeled tender. This set is also branded 'Ellemsee'. The original owner started on the kit by soldering the axle boxes to the side frames, but then left off (Hans van Dissel collection). |
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