The end of the line for Mamod

Somethings, some smells even are connected with pasts and this week one came into the news.

You owned one or had access to one at home or school but countless schoolboys remember the smell from model steam engines some using our old flammable friend Metholated Spirits or for a good while tablets following concerns about injuries from using Meths and pressure from safety authorities.

They came in many forms, steam trains, motor cars and the sort of steam engine we saw at fairs in our towns and cities, made in what was the County Borough of Smethwick, Staffordshire just on the Birmingham city border, in the Black Country.

What has resulted in the sad news that production is to cease is mainly the actions of the Terrorism Authorities who said the tablets used in over 75% of models to generate the head to create the steam traction were being used or could be used to make bombs and so they could no longer be sold.

Meths was ruled out by the safety people although we're still alive, well having used it and god knows what else back in the day.

This meant although the could sell the models, the owner could not see them working which was exactly why we bought them.

They were not still boxed glass cabinet items you collected but things we played with and retooling to convert to other fuels would of been too expensive.

They were living, breathing things boys and men loved.

I remember Chistmas 1980 having mine and loving it playing with assistance from dad, driving Mum wild with it outside.

R.I.P Mamod steam engines.