
Anbrico Scale Models
produced the first ‘OO’ models of the new British
Railways DMU type about to be supplied to the
Leeds/Bradford area in the early 50’s. These were
powered by a motorised bogie in one of the coaches with
un-powered versions available to make up longer trains
as required. Any destination and/or route number was one
of the options available when ordering direct. A model
shop in Leeds centre bought the first batch of Six Twin
Units just weeks before the prototypes appeared in
service. As a result of this order and adverts at that
time more orders came during the following weeks from
model shops in Manchester and London. Over the next few
years the DMU range increased until all types of DMU’s
and Rail buses that had been introduced by British
Railways were produced in ‘OO’ scale with an option of
the type of power bogie.
Early 60’s saw the
introduction of a ‘OO’ range of the ‘Big Four’ coaches (LMS,
GWR, LNER and SR) and part time staff was employed to
make up parts for the Under frames and Interiors for the
DMU’s and Coaches and other unskilled jobs. Later pre
1923 coaches were introduced covering rolling stock from
both large and small operators. The range from
introduction was inclusive of finer detailed items such
as screw couplings, sprung buffers and braided vac pipes
and of course the lining found on these earlier carriage
types. Around this time a well-known model firm dealing
in the larger scales asked if Anbrico could supply them
with a range of ‘O’ gauge Pullman Coaches. Later this
work was undertaken and a range of Pullmans was produced
for them over several years. In later years they were
produced only to special order as required for
individual customers.
Over the years the DMU’s had
become very popular and production methods were changed
and improvements made to give a more detailed appearance
from experience gained from the range of ‘OO’ coaches
being produced. A number of un-powered versions were
supplied to various firms including an order for B.U.T.
(British United Traction, suppliers of the Leyland/AEC
diesel engines for DMU’s) that called for 100 ‘OO’ twin
car units each mounted on a scale length of track on a
wooden plinth (50 were the Derby design and 50 Metro-Cammell)
with four others, two of each type to be the motorised
versions. All were intended to be given to potential
customers throughout the world as ‘Christmas presents’
that year from British United Traction. In later years
after being ‘handed on’ these turned up from various
places to be motorised by Anbrico for use by the new
owners for on their model railways.
A range of ‘OO’ Diesel
Locomotives was being built up as a result of numerous
requests from model railway enthusiasts. It was decided
to introduce a limited range of the most popular types
from firm orders and requests received and this grew as
the years went on to cover numerous types with the
option of the inclusion of extra detail as required by
the individual customers.
In early 1965 an order was
received from British Railways Scottish Region for a
‘OO’ model of the three car Glasgow Suburban Electric
‘Blue Train’ to be mounted on a length of scale track on
a wooden plinth with posts and overhead wires. The
completed model was to be presented to the Queen and
Duke of Edinburgh on a visit to see the line in Scotland
in July 1965. As a result of this initial work the
Glasgow ‘Blue Train’ was later added to the lists.
In early 60’s a small range
of Ready to Run Trams was produced in ‘OO’ which came as
a result of a Trade order which so expanded as to take a
great amount of our small skilled staffs time as it
became popular with both customers in U.K. and abroad as
they were available on either the ‘OO’ or ‘TT’ gauge
chassis. The range was reviewed in several magazines
such as Modern Tramway and Railway Modeller as it then
meant the British outline double-deck tram was now
available to enthusiasts who had hitherto only had trams
of Continental manufacture or design available for
purchase.
The hand built model section
was closed some time later after the completion of some
outstanding orders for models and patterns for firms in
the Model Trade. The Pudsey premises containing the
model side of the business and showroom were sold and
converted into a four bed roomed house as the Video
business which had been established in the late 70’s had
been set up in some other premises only a short distance
away. All items connected with the Scale Model business
were sold off to other firms and private collectors when
the old premises were emptied for the conversion. All
the models from the showcases in the Pudsey showroom
were added to the private collection of one of the
business partners to be retained to illustrate the
history of the firm since the original models were made
in 1932. Most of the range of bus kits pioneered by
Anbrico have now been introduced in complete form in
various liveries by several Die-Cast firms and are to be
seen in model shops throughout the U.K. and in various
other Countries.
Since production ceased
there has been a sharp rise in the second hand sale
prices of all the hand built models, with EBay prices in
particular showing this when unopened kits appear for
sale, with the built up and painted by the customer
models fetching as a rule a lower resale amount. However
the range of ‘ready to run ‘OO’ railway coaches and
DMU’s very rarely come up for sale. Collector’s adverts.
are still seen each month in most of the popular model
magazines asking for Anbrico coaches and DMU’s, but
doubt if they receive much response as most of the
original customers seem to hold on to what stock they
have purchased.
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