TRAIN: METAL TRAIN FOR TRAIN SET, SEDGWICK COLLECTION

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c. 1930 - 1939

Subcollections

Overview

Hornby series part of full train set with tracks. Carriages (c - h) have a latch system which means they can be attached in any order.

a) Red locomotive with black and gold detailing, 4 silver wheels. 'HORNBY' in gold on one side and 'MANFD. BY / MECCANO LTD / LIVERPOOL' on the other. Much weighter than the carriages as it has the mecahanism.

b) Lime green wagon, with open back, which connects to the locomotive (a). '2930' in gold on both sides. Should have 4 wheels but 2 are missing. Sticker on front reads 'HORNBY SERIES / -MANFD. BY- / MECCANO LTD. L'POOL'

c) Brown long covered wagon with beige roof. 4 central hinged doors on each side. Gold letters: 'S' to the left of the doors and 'R' to the right on both sides. 2 sets of 4 wheels, one of which is detached (d). Paint is lightly chipped all over. Should have 4 stoppers but one is missing on the back.

d) Detached wheels from brown wagon (c )

e) Khaki wagon with 4 wheels. 'L M S' in gold on both sides. Paint is lightly chipped throughout. Latch on back is missing a part.

f) Beige and grey tank wagon with 4 wheels. . 'GLASS LINED / UNITED DAIRIES / MILK TANK' in red on both sides. Grey ladder on each side leading up to a hatch on the top of the barrel. Gold sticker on back reads 'HORNBY SERIES / -MANFD. BY- / MECCANO LTD. L'POOL'. One of the stoppers on the back is missing. Paint is lightly chipped all over.

g) Grey flat wagon with 4 wheels (2 are missing). 'N', 'E' and '35968' in white on both of the sides. 2 blue strapping strings (dirty / faded) are attached to metal rings on either side. 2 stoppers on both the front and back. Small gold sticker on base reads 'MADE IN ENGLAND / BY / MACCANO LTD / HORNBY SERIES'. Top of tray appears dirty and there is light paint chipping all over.

h) Navy blue tank wagon with 4 wheels (2 are missing). Blue paint is flaking badly which reveals the bare metal. Both sides have: a horizontal red line, 'REDLINE / SUPER PETROL' in gold and a small gold sticker which reads 'HORNBY SERIES / -MANFD. BY- / MECCANO LTD. L'POOL'. 2 stoppers on both the front and back.

i) Red caboose with 4 wheels. Gold text 'LNER' on one side and 'CEMENT' on the other. Triangular roof with central hinged hatch door. 2 stoppers on the back. Small gold sticker on the back reads 'HORNBY SERIES / -MANFD. BY- / MECCANO LTD. L'POOL'.

Historical information

The train set was made and added to by Alexander Douglas Sedgwick, for his son George Douglas, in his shed at 50 Bedford Street, Subiaco. George used the item from the age of 10.

The train set has been added to and all the items were built for George (known as Douglas) during the depression as a project at night for Alex who couldn’t sleep as he had gone bankrupt as a result of the depression. According to the family, Alexander lost a farm during the depression, and he suffered severely from this…couldn’t sleep at nights so this is a small explanation as to why he built the extra things for the train set. He was serverly castigated by wife Joan for spending his diminishing money on toys. However during the sleepless nights he would get up and work on additions to the train set using kerosene tins, making rails, a large marshalling yard and a turntable, much to Doug's delight. This must have been great therapy for him during this time.

The tracks (2024.308), train (2024.309a-i), train set parts (2024.310a-h), and spare parts (2024.311) all belong to the same train set, originally stored in the wooden storage box (2024.307a-c). It was gifted to the Donor in 2022 and donated to the Subiaco Museum in 2024.

The Sedgwick family lived at 50 Bedford Street and have a number of objects and photographs in the collection. George Douglas had his oral history recorded by the museum in the 1990s.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-43-2024.309a-i

Item type

Material

Width

780 mm

Height or length

900 mm

Keywords

Museum Treasure

Recreation Activities

BEDFORD Avenue [50], Subiaco

SEDGWICK, Alexander Douglas

SEDGWICK, Family Collection

SEDGWICK, George Douglas 'Doug'

Year

c. 1930 - 1939

Statement of significance

This is part of a train set used by George Douglas Sedgwick. It was made by his father Alexander Douglas and all of the parts of the train set were added to over the years by Alexander.

The item was used by a family in Subiaco and is a representative example of the types of toys played with by children during the first half of the twentieth century and beyond.

Public Location

DISP.MUSEUM.RECEPTION2

Links to additional resources

Douglas Sedgwick Centre for Stories

Subiaco Museum

Organisation Details
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