Введение
Британский производитель моделей и игрушек
Bassett Lowke – английская компания по производству игрушек, основанная в Нортгемптоне в 1898 или 1899 году Уэнманом Джозефом Бассетом Лоуком. Компания специализировалась на моделях железных дорог, лодок и кораблей, а также на конструкторах. Bassett Lowke начинала как бизнес по почтовому заказу, хотя и занималась разработкой и производством некоторых изделий. Компания прекратила свою деятельность в 1965 году, а права на бренд были приобретены Corgi Toys. После того, как Corgi была приобретена Hornby в 2008 году, она получила права на бренд Bassett Lowke, который продолжает использоваться в коммерческих целях и по сей день.
Обзор
Bassett Lowke была сбытовой организацией, заключавшей контракты с производителями, такими как Twining Models и Winteringham Ltd, также расположенными в Нортгемптоне. До Первой мировой войны компания также продавала модели, выпускавшиеся фирмами Bing и Märklin.
Сегодня
Название Bassett Lowke в основном ассоциируется с моделями поездов, но компания также имела долгую историю сотрудничества с квалифицированными мастерами для изготовления моделей военных и гражданских кораблей, построенных по ватерлинии, в масштабах от 100 футов до 1 дюйма или 1/1200 из дерева и проволоки. Эти детализированные, изготовленные вручную модели кораблей по ватерлинии настолько востребованы коллекционерами, что часто стоят дороже, чем модельные поезда Bassett Lowke. Малоизвестно, что Bassett Lowke также продавала менее детализированные модели по ватерлинии, отлитые из белого металла. Роланд Фуллер на странице 49 своей книги «История Bassett Lowke» утверждает, что в лондонском магазине Bassett Lowke на Хай-Холборн-стрит был такой высокий спрос на деревянные модели кораблей по ватерлинии, изготовленные вручную, что компании пришлось предложить своим клиентам более доступную линейку моделей кораблей по ватерлинии, отлитых из белого металла, чтобы удовлетворить этот спрос. Компания, поставлявшая эти недорогие модели кораблей из белого металла для клиентов Bassett Lowke, называлась Brighton Manufacturing Company, которая использовала инициалы B.M.C. для идентификации своей продукции. Компания B.M.C. располагалась по адресу 32 Great St Helens, Лондон, Англия. Эта компания по литью металла была соседкой Bassett Lowke, ее магазин находился в пешей доступности от магазина Bassett Lowke на Хай-Холборн-стрит.
Roland Fuller describes in extensive detail the range of inexpensive metal ships offered to Bassett Lowke customers. He states the metal ship models could be purchased individually or could be purchased in numbered boxed sets. Illustrations of these same metal waterline ship models appear in a book by Derek Head. On pages 11 and 15 In his book "Bassett Lowke Waterline Ship Models", Mr. Head provides excerpts of a few pages of the Bassett Lowke war time catalog. These excerpted catalog pages contain illustrations of metal ship models sold in numbered boxed sets matching the exact description of the numbered boxed sets of metal ship models described in the Roland Fuller book. The presence of these metal ship models in the Bassett Lowke war time model ship catalog can be explained by the following:
Derek Head describes on page 11 of his book that at beginning of World War One, government censors prohibited Bassett Lowke from selling or advertising their line of detailed 100 ft. to 1 inch or 1/1200 scale models of the Royal Navy. The concern of the censors was that the accuracy of these detailed models could give vital information to the enemy. In order to have some representation of the Royal Navy for their war time catalog, Bassett Lowke replaced their prohibited Royal Navy models by purchasing the less detailed metal ship models of the Royal Navy made by the neighboring company, B. M. C. These metal B. M. C. models while detailed, had their origins as game models and were therefore less accurate depictions of Royal Navy Warships. This lack of sharp detail was apparently found acceptable to the government censors and therefore they were allowed to appear in the catalog. The resulting model fleet in metal carried in the Bassett Lowke war time catalogue was of every class of ship in the British navy then in commission as of 1914. The models found in the collection range from the early 1889 Royal Sovereign class Pre Dreadnoughts, some of which had been retained by the navy as bombardment ships, through to eventually the newest Revenge class Super Dreadnoughts which had just come into service. The 1917 Bassett Lowke catalogue proudly boasts that "Practically every ship in the Navy has been modelled, including Super Dreadnoughts, Battleships, Battle Cruisers, Armoured Cruisers, Light Cruisers, Destroyers, Torpedo Boats, Submarines, Mine Layers, Mine Sweepers, Troopships, Transports, Armed Liners and all Auxiliary Craft". The models were formed in lead with the wire masts cast into the hulls in a scale of one inch to 150 feet or 1/1800. They were painted and issued in numbered boxed sets by Bassett Lowke, the boxes bearing the label “H. M. S. Irresistible”. Paper flags were supplied with each set, to be cut out and applied to the masts and sternposts. Every class of vessel was easily recognizable by the funnels, guns and masts. While rudimentary by later standards, the B. M. C. production of over 101 different castings was the first scale metal ship model fleet ever produced and established the precedent for all subsequent scale metal waterline recognition ship models. In addition to the ship models, B. M. C. produced a fort with movable guns, four lighthouses and a game featuring a large fold out map of the Dardanelles channel showing forts and minefields. The game was supplied with fifteen metal ship models including two mine sweepers and two submarines
This collaboration between Bassett Lowke and B. M. C. was a great benefit to both companies. It allowed Bassett Lowke to have a representation of the Royal Navy in their war time catalogue that was acceptable to the government censors and at the same time it gave the small metal casting company of B. M. C. a broader venue for the sales of their metal ship models. In the time period of the First World War, these metal B. M. C. ship models were the only examples of waterline warship models of the Royal Navy sold by Bassett Lowke and are therefore deserving of a more detailed review than has normally been accorded to them. The B. M. C. waterline ship models had been cast by an independent company which had been selling their metal waterline ship models for over 10 years through advertisement and through shops specializing in military miniatures. Early in the century this small company had begun supplying lead waterline game models to the publishers of the Fred T. Janes Naval War Game, supplementing the pressed cork and wire waterline game models already being supplied to the game by others. The accomplishment of B. M. C. is that this garage sized company had, by 1903 begun the creation of the first commercially available metal waterline ship models made in a uniform scale to each other. B. M. C. SHIP MODELS AVAILABLE TODAY
The B. M. C. ship models often appear for sale on internet auctions and at toy shows. Many times at these sales the B. M. C. models are found mixed with copies made by two later companies. The B. M. C. models can be distinguished from the copies since only the B. M. C. models have full length wire masts cast into the hulls. The first type of copies are 31 models made by "Minifigs" These are cast in solid lead, have no wire masts and have large numbers inscribed on the bottom. The second type of copies comprise a group of four models made by Crescent which are cast in pot metal. They have numbers near the starboard stern numbering B.1, B.2, B.3, or B.4. Curiously, these pot metal models retain the same numbering system that is cast into the hulls of the four B. M. C models from which they were derived. These Crescent copies mimic the B. M. C. castings of the B. I Duncan, B. II Swiftsure, B. III King Edward VII, and the B. IV Lord Nelson. It is unknown when Bassett Lowke ceased carrying the B. M. C metal ship models, however Derek Head in his book on page 12, states that metal ship models continued to be carried until the 1920’s. In the present day, the larger highly accurate wood and wire ship models in the scale of one inch to 1200 inches or 1:1200, is are what command the high prices at auction. These hand crafted ship models continued to be sold commercially until the mid1960's and had also been purchased by the military for recognition and war gaming purpose. Unlike the B. M. C. metal models, which were carried only briefly by Bassett Lowke in the early years and are a mystery to most collectors, the larger highly finished 100 to 1 inch or 1/1200 scale wooden ship models are greatly sought after by collectors and command high prices at auctions. The Derek Head book, "Bassett Lowke Waterline Ship Models" will reward ship model collectors with an extensive and colorful survey of both the metal B. M. C. ships and the expensive, detailed, hand crafted ship models, many from his own collection.
Роланд Фуллер подробно описывает ассортимент недорогих металлических кораблей, предлагаемых клиентам Bassett Lowke. Он утверждает, что модели металлических кораблей можно было приобрести по отдельности или в пронумерованных наборах в коробках. Иллюстрации этих же металлических моделей кораблей по ватерлинии можно найти в книге Дерека Хеда. На страницах 11 и 15 своей книги «Модели кораблей по ватерлинии Bassett Lowke» г-н Хед приводит отрывки из нескольких страниц военного каталога Bassett Lowke. Эти страницы каталога содержат иллюстрации моделей металлических кораблей, продаваемых в пронумерованных наборах в коробках, которые точно соответствуют описанию пронумерованных наборов моделей металлических кораблей, описанных в книге Роланда Фуллера. Присутствие этих металлических моделей кораблей в военном каталоге кораблей Bassett Lowke можно объяснить следующим образом:
Roland Fuller describes in extensive detail the range of inexpensive metal ships offered to Bassett Lowke customers. He states the metal ship models could be purchased individually or could be purchased in numbered boxed sets. Illustrations of these same metal waterline ship models appear in a book by Derek Head. On pages 11 and 15 In his book "Bassett Lowke Waterline Ship Models", Mr. Head provides excerpts of a few pages of the Bassett Lowke war time catalog. These excerpted catalog pages contain illustrations of metal ship models sold in numbered boxed sets matching the exact description of the numbered boxed sets of metal ship models described in the Roland Fuller book. The presence of these metal ship models in the Bassett Lowke war time model ship catalog can be explained by the following:
Derek Head describes on page 11 of his book that at beginning of World War One, government censors prohibited Bassett Lowke from selling or advertising their line of detailed 100 ft. to 1 inch or 1/1200 scale models of the Royal Navy. The concern of the censors was that the accuracy of these detailed models could give vital information to the enemy. In order to have some representation of the Royal Navy for their war time catalog, Bassett Lowke replaced their prohibited Royal Navy models by purchasing the less detailed metal ship models of the Royal Navy made by the neighboring company, B. M. C. These metal B. M. C. models while detailed, had their origins as game models and were therefore less accurate depictions of Royal Navy Warships. This lack of sharp detail was apparently found acceptable to the government censors and therefore they were allowed to appear in the catalog. The resulting model fleet in metal carried in the Bassett Lowke war time catalogue was of every class of ship in the British navy then in commission as of 1914. The models found in the collection range from the early 1889 Royal Sovereign class Pre Dreadnoughts, some of which had been retained by the navy as bombardment ships, through to eventually the newest Revenge class Super Dreadnoughts which had just come into service. The 1917 Bassett Lowke catalogue proudly boasts that "Practically every ship in the Navy has been modelled, including Super Dreadnoughts, Battleships, Battle Cruisers, Armoured Cruisers, Light Cruisers, Destroyers, Torpedo Boats, Submarines, Mine Layers, Mine Sweepers, Troopships, Transports, Armed Liners and all Auxiliary Craft". The models were formed in lead with the wire masts cast into the hulls in a scale of one inch to 150 feet or 1/1800. They were painted and issued in numbered boxed sets by Bassett Lowke, the boxes bearing the label “H. M. S. Irresistible”. Paper flags were supplied with each set, to be cut out and applied to the masts and sternposts. Every class of vessel was easily recognizable by the funnels, guns and masts. While rudimentary by later standards, the B. M. C. production of over 101 different castings was the first scale metal ship model fleet ever produced and established the precedent for all subsequent scale metal waterline recognition ship models. In addition to the ship models, B. M. C. produced a fort with movable guns, four lighthouses and a game featuring a large fold out map of the Dardanelles channel showing forts and minefields. The game was supplied with fifteen metal ship models including two mine sweepers and two submarines
This collaboration between Bassett Lowke and B. M. C. was a great benefit to both companies. It allowed Bassett Lowke to have a representation of the Royal Navy in their war time catalogue that was acceptable to the government censors and at the same time it gave the small metal casting company of B. M. C. a broader venue for the sales of their metal ship models. In the time period of the First World War, these metal B. M. C. ship models were the only examples of waterline warship models of the Royal Navy sold by Bassett Lowke and are therefore deserving of a more detailed review than has normally been accorded to them. The B. M. C. waterline ship models had been cast by an independent company which had been selling their metal waterline ship models for over 10 years through advertisement and through shops specializing in military miniatures. Early in the century this small company had begun supplying lead waterline game models to the publishers of the Fred T. Janes Naval War Game, supplementing the pressed cork and wire waterline game models already being supplied to the game by others. The accomplishment of B. M. C. is that this garage sized company had, by 1903 begun the creation of the first commercially available metal waterline ship models made in a uniform scale to each other. B. M. C. SHIP MODELS AVAILABLE TODAY
The B. M. C. ship models often appear for sale on internet auctions and at toy shows. Many times at these sales the B. M. C. models are found mixed with copies made by two later companies. The B. M. C. models can be distinguished from the copies since only the B. M. C. models have full length wire masts cast into the hulls. The first type of copies are 31 models made by "Minifigs" These are cast in solid lead, have no wire masts and have large numbers inscribed on the bottom. The second type of copies comprise a group of four models made by Crescent which are cast in pot metal. They have numbers near the starboard stern numbering B.1, B.2, B.3, or B.4. Curiously, these pot metal models retain the same numbering system that is cast into the hulls of the four B. M. C models from which they were derived. These Crescent copies mimic the B. M. C. castings of the B. I Duncan, B. II Swiftsure, B. III King Edward VII, and the B. IV Lord Nelson. It is unknown when Bassett Lowke ceased carrying the B. M. C metal ship models, however Derek Head in his book on page 12, states that metal ship models continued to be carried until the 1920’s. In the present day, the larger highly accurate wood and wire ship models in the scale of one inch to 1200 inches or 1:1200, is are what command the high prices at auction. These hand crafted ship models continued to be sold commercially until the mid1960's and had also been purchased by the military for recognition and war gaming purpose. Unlike the B. M. C. metal models, which were carried only briefly by Bassett Lowke in the early years and are a mystery to most collectors, the larger highly finished 100 to 1 inch or 1/1200 scale wooden ship models are greatly sought after by collectors and command high prices at auctions. The Derek Head book, "Bassett Lowke Waterline Ship Models" will reward ship model collectors with an extensive and colorful survey of both the metal B. M. C. ships and the expensive, detailed, hand crafted ship models, many from his own collection.
Дерек Хед на странице 11 своей книги описывает, что в начале Первой мировой войны правительственные цензоры запретили Bassett Lowke продавать или рекламировать свою линейку детализированных моделей Королевского флота в масштабе от 100 футов до 1 дюйма или 1/1200. Цензоры опасались, что точность этих детализированных моделей может предоставить врагу важную информацию. Чтобы иметь хоть какое-то представление о Королевском флоте в своем военном каталоге, Bassett Lowke заменила запрещенные модели Королевского флота менее детализированными металлическими моделями кораблей Королевского флота, изготовленными соседней компанией B.M.C. Эти металлические модели B.M.C., хотя и детализированные, изначально создавались как игровые модели и поэтому были менее точными изображениями военных кораблей Королевского флота. Отсутствие четких деталей, по-видимому, было признано приемлемым для правительственных цензоров, и поэтому им было разрешено появляться в каталоге. В результате в военном каталоге Bassett Lowke появился модельный флот из металла, включавший все классы кораблей британского флота, состоявшие на вооружении в 1914 году. Модели в коллекции варьируются от ранних преддредноутов класса Royal Sovereign 1889 года, некоторые из которых были сохранены флотом в качестве кораблей бомбардировочного огня, до новейших супердредноутов класса Revenge, которые только что поступили на вооружение. В каталоге Bassett Lowke 1917 года с гордостью заявляется, что «Практически каждый корабль флота был смоделирован, включая супердредноуты, линкоры, линейные крейсеры, броненосные крейсеры, легкие крейсеры, эсминцы, торпедные катера, подводные лодки, минные заградители, тральщики, военные транспорты, транспорты, вооруженные лайнеры и все вспомогательные суда». Модели были отлиты из свинца с проволочными мачтами, отлитыми в корпуса в масштабе один дюйм к 150 футам или 1/1800. Они были окрашены и выпускались в пронумерованных наборах в коробках от Bassett Lowke с надписью «H.M.S. Irresistible». К каждому набору прилагались бумажные флаги, которые нужно было вырезать и прикрепить к мачтам и кормовым стойкам. Каждый класс судов легко узнавался по дымовым трубам, орудиям и мачтам. Хотя и примитивные по более поздним стандартам, производство B.M.C. более 101 различных отливок стало первым в истории масштабируемым флотом металлических моделей кораблей и заложило основу для всех последующих масштабируемых металлических моделей кораблей по ватерлинии для распознавания. Помимо моделей кораблей, B.M.C. производила форт с подвижными орудиями, четыре маяка и игру, в которой была большая раскладная карта Дарданелльского пролива с изображением фортов и минных полей. В игру входили пятнадцать металлических моделей кораблей, в том числе два тральщика и две подводные лодки.
Roland Fuller describes in extensive detail the range of inexpensive metal ships offered to Bassett Lowke customers. He states the metal ship models could be purchased individually or could be purchased in numbered boxed sets. Illustrations of these same metal waterline ship models appear in a book by Derek Head. On pages 11 and 15 In his book "Bassett Lowke Waterline Ship Models", Mr. Head provides excerpts of a few pages of the Bassett Lowke war time catalog. These excerpted catalog pages contain illustrations of metal ship models sold in numbered boxed sets matching the exact description of the numbered boxed sets of metal ship models described in the Roland Fuller book. The presence of these metal ship models in the Bassett Lowke war time model ship catalog can be explained by the following:
Derek Head describes on page 11 of his book that at beginning of World War One, government censors prohibited Bassett Lowke from selling or advertising their line of detailed 100 ft. to 1 inch or 1/1200 scale models of the Royal Navy. The concern of the censors was that the accuracy of these detailed models could give vital information to the enemy. In order to have some representation of the Royal Navy for their war time catalog, Bassett Lowke replaced their prohibited Royal Navy models by purchasing the less detailed metal ship models of the Royal Navy made by the neighboring company, B. M. C. These metal B. M. C. models while detailed, had their origins as game models and were therefore less accurate depictions of Royal Navy Warships. This lack of sharp detail was apparently found acceptable to the government censors and therefore they were allowed to appear in the catalog. The resulting model fleet in metal carried in the Bassett Lowke war time catalogue was of every class of ship in the British navy then in commission as of 1914. The models found in the collection range from the early 1889 Royal Sovereign class Pre Dreadnoughts, some of which had been retained by the navy as bombardment ships, through to eventually the newest Revenge class Super Dreadnoughts which had just come into service. The 1917 Bassett Lowke catalogue proudly boasts that "Practically every ship in the Navy has been modelled, including Super Dreadnoughts, Battleships, Battle Cruisers, Armoured Cruisers, Light Cruisers, Destroyers, Torpedo Boats, Submarines, Mine Layers, Mine Sweepers, Troopships, Transports, Armed Liners and all Auxiliary Craft". The models were formed in lead with the wire masts cast into the hulls in a scale of one inch to 150 feet or 1/1800. They were painted and issued in numbered boxed sets by Bassett Lowke, the boxes bearing the label “H. M. S. Irresistible”. Paper flags were supplied with each set, to be cut out and applied to the masts and sternposts. Every class of vessel was easily recognizable by the funnels, guns and masts. While rudimentary by later standards, the B. M. C. production of over 101 different castings was the first scale metal ship model fleet ever produced and established the precedent for all subsequent scale metal waterline recognition ship models. In addition to the ship models, B. M. C. produced a fort with movable guns, four lighthouses and a game featuring a large fold out map of the Dardanelles channel showing forts and minefields. The game was supplied with fifteen metal ship models including two mine sweepers and two submarines
This collaboration between Bassett Lowke and B. M. C. was a great benefit to both companies. It allowed Bassett Lowke to have a representation of the Royal Navy in their war time catalogue that was acceptable to the government censors and at the same time it gave the small metal casting company of B. M. C. a broader venue for the sales of their metal ship models. In the time period of the First World War, these metal B. M. C. ship models were the only examples of waterline warship models of the Royal Navy sold by Bassett Lowke and are therefore deserving of a more detailed review than has normally been accorded to them. The B. M. C. waterline ship models had been cast by an independent company which had been selling their metal waterline ship models for over 10 years through advertisement and through shops specializing in military miniatures. Early in the century this small company had begun supplying lead waterline game models to the publishers of the Fred T. Janes Naval War Game, supplementing the pressed cork and wire waterline game models already being supplied to the game by others. The accomplishment of B. M. C. is that this garage sized company had, by 1903 begun the creation of the first commercially available metal waterline ship models made in a uniform scale to each other. B. M. C. SHIP MODELS AVAILABLE TODAY
The B. M. C. ship models often appear for sale on internet auctions and at toy shows. Many times at these sales the B. M. C. models are found mixed with copies made by two later companies. The B. M. C. models can be distinguished from the copies since only the B. M. C. models have full length wire masts cast into the hulls. The first type of copies are 31 models made by "Minifigs" These are cast in solid lead, have no wire masts and have large numbers inscribed on the bottom. The second type of copies comprise a group of four models made by Crescent which are cast in pot metal. They have numbers near the starboard stern numbering B.1, B.2, B.3, or B.4. Curiously, these pot metal models retain the same numbering system that is cast into the hulls of the four B. M. C models from which they were derived. These Crescent copies mimic the B. M. C. castings of the B. I Duncan, B. II Swiftsure, B. III King Edward VII, and the B. IV Lord Nelson. It is unknown when Bassett Lowke ceased carrying the B. M. C metal ship models, however Derek Head in his book on page 12, states that metal ship models continued to be carried until the 1920’s. In the present day, the larger highly accurate wood and wire ship models in the scale of one inch to 1200 inches or 1:1200, is are what command the high prices at auction. These hand crafted ship models continued to be sold commercially until the mid1960's and had also been purchased by the military for recognition and war gaming purpose. Unlike the B. M. C. metal models, which were carried only briefly by Bassett Lowke in the early years and are a mystery to most collectors, the larger highly finished 100 to 1 inch or 1/1200 scale wooden ship models are greatly sought after by collectors and command high prices at auctions. The Derek Head book, "Bassett Lowke Waterline Ship Models" will reward ship model collectors with an extensive and colorful survey of both the metal B. M. C. ships and the expensive, detailed, hand crafted ship models, many from his own collection.
Это сотрудничество между Bassett Lowke и B.M.C. было выгодно обеим компаниям. Оно позволило Bassett Lowke иметь представление о Королевском флоте в своем военном каталоге, которое было приемлемо для правительственных цензоров, и в то же время предоставило небольшой компании по литью металла B.M.C. более широкую площадку для продажи своих моделей кораблей из металла. В период Первой мировой войны эти металлические модели кораблей B.M.C. были единственными примерами моделей военных кораблей по ватерлинии Королевского флота, продаваемых Bassett Lowke, и поэтому заслуживают более детального изучения, чем обычно им уделяется. Модели кораблей по ватерлинии B.M.C. были отлиты независимой компанией, которая более 10 лет продавала свои металлические модели кораблей по ватерлинии через рекламу и в магазинах, специализирующихся на военных миниатюрах. В начале века эта небольшая компания начала поставлять свинцовые модели кораблей по ватерлинии для игровых целей издателям военно-морской игры Фреда Т. Джейнса, дополняя прессованные пробковые и проволочные модели кораблей по ватерлинии, которые уже поставлялись для игры другими поставщиками. Достижением B.M.C. является то, что эта компания размером с гараж к 1903 году начала создавать первые коммерчески доступные металлические модели кораблей по ватерлинии, изготовленные в едином масштабе друг к другу.
Roland Fuller describes in extensive detail the range of inexpensive metal ships offered to Bassett Lowke customers. He states the metal ship models could be purchased individually or could be purchased in numbered boxed sets. Illustrations of these same metal waterline ship models appear in a book by Derek Head. On pages 11 and 15 In his book "Bassett Lowke Waterline Ship Models", Mr. Head provides excerpts of a few pages of the Bassett Lowke war time catalog. These excerpted catalog pages contain illustrations of metal ship models sold in numbered boxed sets matching the exact description of the numbered boxed sets of metal ship models described in the Roland Fuller book. The presence of these metal ship models in the Bassett Lowke war time model ship catalog can be explained by the following:
Derek Head describes on page 11 of his book that at beginning of World War One, government censors prohibited Bassett Lowke from selling or advertising their line of detailed 100 ft. to 1 inch or 1/1200 scale models of the Royal Navy. The concern of the censors was that the accuracy of these detailed models could give vital information to the enemy. In order to have some representation of the Royal Navy for their war time catalog, Bassett Lowke replaced their prohibited Royal Navy models by purchasing the less detailed metal ship models of the Royal Navy made by the neighboring company, B. M. C. These metal B. M. C. models while detailed, had their origins as game models and were therefore less accurate depictions of Royal Navy Warships. This lack of sharp detail was apparently found acceptable to the government censors and therefore they were allowed to appear in the catalog. The resulting model fleet in metal carried in the Bassett Lowke war time catalogue was of every class of ship in the British navy then in commission as of 1914. The models found in the collection range from the early 1889 Royal Sovereign class Pre Dreadnoughts, some of which had been retained by the navy as bombardment ships, through to eventually the newest Revenge class Super Dreadnoughts which had just come into service. The 1917 Bassett Lowke catalogue proudly boasts that "Practically every ship in the Navy has been modelled, including Super Dreadnoughts, Battleships, Battle Cruisers, Armoured Cruisers, Light Cruisers, Destroyers, Torpedo Boats, Submarines, Mine Layers, Mine Sweepers, Troopships, Transports, Armed Liners and all Auxiliary Craft". The models were formed in lead with the wire masts cast into the hulls in a scale of one inch to 150 feet or 1/1800. They were painted and issued in numbered boxed sets by Bassett Lowke, the boxes bearing the label “H. M. S. Irresistible”. Paper flags were supplied with each set, to be cut out and applied to the masts and sternposts. Every class of vessel was easily recognizable by the funnels, guns and masts. While rudimentary by later standards, the B. M. C. production of over 101 different castings was the first scale metal ship model fleet ever produced and established the precedent for all subsequent scale metal waterline recognition ship models. In addition to the ship models, B. M. C. produced a fort with movable guns, four lighthouses and a game featuring a large fold out map of the Dardanelles channel showing forts and minefields. The game was supplied with fifteen metal ship models including two mine sweepers and two submarines
This collaboration between Bassett Lowke and B. M. C. was a great benefit to both companies. It allowed Bassett Lowke to have a representation of the Royal Navy in their war time catalogue that was acceptable to the government censors and at the same time it gave the small metal casting company of B. M. C. a broader venue for the sales of their metal ship models. In the time period of the First World War, these metal B. M. C. ship models were the only examples of waterline warship models of the Royal Navy sold by Bassett Lowke and are therefore deserving of a more detailed review than has normally been accorded to them. The B. M. C. waterline ship models had been cast by an independent company which had been selling their metal waterline ship models for over 10 years through advertisement and through shops specializing in military miniatures. Early in the century this small company had begun supplying lead waterline game models to the publishers of the Fred T. Janes Naval War Game, supplementing the pressed cork and wire waterline game models already being supplied to the game by others. The accomplishment of B. M. C. is that this garage sized company had, by 1903 begun the creation of the first commercially available metal waterline ship models made in a uniform scale to each other. B. M. C. SHIP MODELS AVAILABLE TODAY
The B. M. C. ship models often appear for sale on internet auctions and at toy shows. Many times at these sales the B. M. C. models are found mixed with copies made by two later companies. The B. M. C. models can be distinguished from the copies since only the B. M. C. models have full length wire masts cast into the hulls. The first type of copies are 31 models made by "Minifigs" These are cast in solid lead, have no wire masts and have large numbers inscribed on the bottom. The second type of copies comprise a group of four models made by Crescent which are cast in pot metal. They have numbers near the starboard stern numbering B.1, B.2, B.3, or B.4. Curiously, these pot metal models retain the same numbering system that is cast into the hulls of the four B. M. C models from which they were derived. These Crescent copies mimic the B. M. C. castings of the B. I Duncan, B. II Swiftsure, B. III King Edward VII, and the B. IV Lord Nelson. It is unknown when Bassett Lowke ceased carrying the B. M. C metal ship models, however Derek Head in his book on page 12, states that metal ship models continued to be carried until the 1920’s. In the present day, the larger highly accurate wood and wire ship models in the scale of one inch to 1200 inches or 1:1200, is are what command the high prices at auction. These hand crafted ship models continued to be sold commercially until the mid1960's and had also been purchased by the military for recognition and war gaming purpose. Unlike the B. M. C. metal models, which were carried only briefly by Bassett Lowke in the early years and are a mystery to most collectors, the larger highly finished 100 to 1 inch or 1/1200 scale wooden ship models are greatly sought after by collectors and command high prices at auctions. The Derek Head book, "Bassett Lowke Waterline Ship Models" will reward ship model collectors with an extensive and colorful survey of both the metal B. M. C. ships and the expensive, detailed, hand crafted ship models, many from his own collection.
МОДЕЛИ КОРАБЛЕЙ B.M.C., ДОСТУПНЫЕ СЕГОДНЯ
Roland Fuller describes in extensive detail the range of inexpensive metal ships offered to Bassett Lowke customers. He states the metal ship models could be purchased individually or could be purchased in numbered boxed sets. Illustrations of these same metal waterline ship models appear in a book by Derek Head. On pages 11 and 15 In his book "Bassett Lowke Waterline Ship Models", Mr. Head provides excerpts of a few pages of the Bassett Lowke war time catalog. These excerpted catalog pages contain illustrations of metal ship models sold in numbered boxed sets matching the exact description of the numbered boxed sets of metal ship models described in the Roland Fuller book. The presence of these metal ship models in the Bassett Lowke war time model ship catalog can be explained by the following:
Derek Head describes on page 11 of his book that at beginning of World War One, government censors prohibited Bassett Lowke from selling or advertising their line of detailed 100 ft. to 1 inch or 1/1200 scale models of the Royal Navy. The concern of the censors was that the accuracy of these detailed models could give vital information to the enemy. In order to have some representation of the Royal Navy for their war time catalog, Bassett Lowke replaced their prohibited Royal Navy models by purchasing the less detailed metal ship models of the Royal Navy made by the neighboring company, B. M. C. These metal B. M. C. models while detailed, had their origins as game models and were therefore less accurate depictions of Royal Navy Warships. This lack of sharp detail was apparently found acceptable to the government censors and therefore they were allowed to appear in the catalog. The resulting model fleet in metal carried in the Bassett Lowke war time catalogue was of every class of ship in the British navy then in commission as of 1914. The models found in the collection range from the early 1889 Royal Sovereign class Pre Dreadnoughts, some of which had been retained by the navy as bombardment ships, through to eventually the newest Revenge class Super Dreadnoughts which had just come into service. The 1917 Bassett Lowke catalogue proudly boasts that "Practically every ship in the Navy has been modelled, including Super Dreadnoughts, Battleships, Battle Cruisers, Armoured Cruisers, Light Cruisers, Destroyers, Torpedo Boats, Submarines, Mine Layers, Mine Sweepers, Troopships, Transports, Armed Liners and all Auxiliary Craft". The models were formed in lead with the wire masts cast into the hulls in a scale of one inch to 150 feet or 1/1800. They were painted and issued in numbered boxed sets by Bassett Lowke, the boxes bearing the label “H. M. S. Irresistible”. Paper flags were supplied with each set, to be cut out and applied to the masts and sternposts. Every class of vessel was easily recognizable by the funnels, guns and masts. While rudimentary by later standards, the B. M. C. production of over 101 different castings was the first scale metal ship model fleet ever produced and established the precedent for all subsequent scale metal waterline recognition ship models. In addition to the ship models, B. M. C. produced a fort with movable guns, four lighthouses and a game featuring a large fold out map of the Dardanelles channel showing forts and minefields. The game was supplied with fifteen metal ship models including two mine sweepers and two submarines
This collaboration between Bassett Lowke and B. M. C. was a great benefit to both companies. It allowed Bassett Lowke to have a representation of the Royal Navy in their war time catalogue that was acceptable to the government censors and at the same time it gave the small metal casting company of B. M. C. a broader venue for the sales of their metal ship models. In the time period of the First World War, these metal B. M. C. ship models were the only examples of waterline warship models of the Royal Navy sold by Bassett Lowke and are therefore deserving of a more detailed review than has normally been accorded to them. The B. M. C. waterline ship models had been cast by an independent company which had been selling their metal waterline ship models for over 10 years through advertisement and through shops specializing in military miniatures. Early in the century this small company had begun supplying lead waterline game models to the publishers of the Fred T. Janes Naval War Game, supplementing the pressed cork and wire waterline game models already being supplied to the game by others. The accomplishment of B. M. C. is that this garage sized company had, by 1903 begun the creation of the first commercially available metal waterline ship models made in a uniform scale to each other. B. M. C. SHIP MODELS AVAILABLE TODAY
The B. M. C. ship models often appear for sale on internet auctions and at toy shows. Many times at these sales the B. M. C. models are found mixed with copies made by two later companies. The B. M. C. models can be distinguished from the copies since only the B. M. C. models have full length wire masts cast into the hulls. The first type of copies are 31 models made by "Minifigs" These are cast in solid lead, have no wire masts and have large numbers inscribed on the bottom. The second type of copies comprise a group of four models made by Crescent which are cast in pot metal. They have numbers near the starboard stern numbering B.1, B.2, B.3, or B.4. Curiously, these pot metal models retain the same numbering system that is cast into the hulls of the four B. M. C models from which they were derived. These Crescent copies mimic the B. M. C. castings of the B. I Duncan, B. II Swiftsure, B. III King Edward VII, and the B. IV Lord Nelson. It is unknown when Bassett Lowke ceased carrying the B. M. C metal ship models, however Derek Head in his book on page 12, states that metal ship models continued to be carried until the 1920’s. In the present day, the larger highly accurate wood and wire ship models in the scale of one inch to 1200 inches or 1:1200, is are what command the high prices at auction. These hand crafted ship models continued to be sold commercially until the mid1960's and had also been purchased by the military for recognition and war gaming purpose. Unlike the B. M. C. metal models, which were carried only briefly by Bassett Lowke in the early years and are a mystery to most collectors, the larger highly finished 100 to 1 inch or 1/1200 scale wooden ship models are greatly sought after by collectors and command high prices at auctions. The Derek Head book, "Bassett Lowke Waterline Ship Models" will reward ship model collectors with an extensive and colorful survey of both the metal B. M. C. ships and the expensive, detailed, hand crafted ship models, many from his own collection.
Модели кораблей B.M.C. часто появляются в продаже на интернет-аукционах и на выставках игрушек. Зачастую на этих продажах модели B.M.C. смешиваются с копиями, изготовленными двумя более поздними компаниями. Модели B.M.C. можно отличить от копий, поскольку только модели B.M.C. имеют проволочные мачты, отлитые в корпуса. Первый тип копий — 31 модель, изготовленная компанией «Minifigs». Они отлиты из цельного свинца, не имеют проволочных мачт и имеют большие номера, выгравированные на дне. Второй тип копий состоит из группы из четырех моделей, изготовленных компанией Crescent, которые отлиты из бакелита. На них есть номера рядом с правым кормовым шпангоутом: B.1, B.2, B.3 или B.4. Любопытно, что эти бакелитовые модели сохраняют ту же систему нумерации, которая отлита в корпусах четырех моделей B.M.C., от которых они были получены. Эти копии Crescent имитируют отливки B.M.C. моделей B.I Duncan, B.II Swiftsure, B.III King Edward VII и B.IV Lord Nelson. Неизвестно, когда Bassett Lowke прекратила продавать металлические модели кораблей B.M.C., однако Дерек Хед в своей книге на странице 12 утверждает, что металлические модели кораблей продолжали продаваться до 1920-х годов. В настоящее время более крупные и точные деревянные и проволочные модели кораблей в масштабе от одного дюйма до 1200 дюймов или 1:1200 стоят дорого на аукционах. Эти изготовленные вручную модели кораблей продолжали продаваться в коммерческих целях до середины 1960-х годов и также приобретались военными для целей распознавания и военных игр. В отличие от металлических моделей B.M.C., которые Bassett Lowke продавала лишь короткое время в первые годы и которые являются загадкой для большинства коллекционеров, более крупные и высококачественные деревянные модели кораблей в масштабе 100 к 1 дюйму или 1/1200 очень востребованы коллекционерами и стоят дорого на аукционах. Книга Дерека Хеда «Модели кораблей по ватерлинии Bassett Lowke» будет полезна коллекционерам моделей кораблей с обширным…
Roland Fuller describes in extensive detail the range of inexpensive metal ships offered to Bassett Lowke customers. He states the metal ship models could be purchased individually or could be purchased in numbered boxed sets. Illustrations of these same metal waterline ship models appear in a book by Derek Head. On pages 11 and 15 In his book "Bassett Lowke Waterline Ship Models", Mr. Head provides excerpts of a few pages of the Bassett Lowke war time catalog. These excerpted catalog pages contain illustrations of metal ship models sold in numbered boxed sets matching the exact description of the numbered boxed sets of metal ship models described in the Roland Fuller book. The presence of these metal ship models in the Bassett Lowke war time model ship catalog can be explained by the following:
Derek Head describes on page 11 of his book that at beginning of World War One, government censors prohibited Bassett Lowke from selling or advertising their line of detailed 100 ft. to 1 inch or 1/1200 scale models of the Royal Navy. The concern of the censors was that the accuracy of these detailed models could give vital information to the enemy. In order to have some representation of the Royal Navy for their war time catalog, Bassett Lowke replaced their prohibited Royal Navy models by purchasing the less detailed metal ship models of the Royal Navy made by the neighboring company, B. M. C. These metal B. M. C. models while detailed, had their origins as game models and were therefore less accurate depictions of Royal Navy Warships. This lack of sharp detail was apparently found acceptable to the government censors and therefore they were allowed to appear in the catalog. The resulting model fleet in metal carried in the Bassett Lowke war time catalogue was of every class of ship in the British navy then in commission as of 1914. The models found in the collection range from the early 1889 Royal Sovereign class Pre Dreadnoughts, some of which had been retained by the navy as bombardment ships, through to eventually the newest Revenge class Super Dreadnoughts which had just come into service. The 1917 Bassett Lowke catalogue proudly boasts that "Practically every ship in the Navy has been modelled, including Super Dreadnoughts, Battleships, Battle Cruisers, Armoured Cruisers, Light Cruisers, Destroyers, Torpedo Boats, Submarines, Mine Layers, Mine Sweepers, Troopships, Transports, Armed Liners and all Auxiliary Craft". The models were formed in lead with the wire masts cast into the hulls in a scale of one inch to 150 feet or 1/1800. They were painted and issued in numbered boxed sets by Bassett Lowke, the boxes bearing the label “H. M. S. Irresistible”. Paper flags were supplied with each set, to be cut out and applied to the masts and sternposts. Every class of vessel was easily recognizable by the funnels, guns and masts. While rudimentary by later standards, the B. M. C. production of over 101 different castings was the first scale metal ship model fleet ever produced and established the precedent for all subsequent scale metal waterline recognition ship models. In addition to the ship models, B. M. C. produced a fort with movable guns, four lighthouses and a game featuring a large fold out map of the Dardanelles channel showing forts and minefields. The game was supplied with fifteen metal ship models including two mine sweepers and two submarines
This collaboration between Bassett Lowke and B. M. C. was a great benefit to both companies. It allowed Bassett Lowke to have a representation of the Royal Navy in their war time catalogue that was acceptable to the government censors and at the same time it gave the small metal casting company of B. M. C. a broader venue for the sales of their metal ship models. In the time period of the First World War, these metal B. M. C. ship models were the only examples of waterline warship models of the Royal Navy sold by Bassett Lowke and are therefore deserving of a more detailed review than has normally been accorded to them. The B. M. C. waterline ship models had been cast by an independent company which had been selling their metal waterline ship models for over 10 years through advertisement and through shops specializing in military miniatures. Early in the century this small company had begun supplying lead waterline game models to the publishers of the Fred T. Janes Naval War Game, supplementing the pressed cork and wire waterline game models already being supplied to the game by others. The accomplishment of B. M. C. is that this garage sized company had, by 1903 begun the creation of the first commercially available metal waterline ship models made in a uniform scale to each other. B. M. C. SHIP MODELS AVAILABLE TODAY
The B. M. C. ship models often appear for sale on internet auctions and at toy shows. Many times at these sales the B. M. C. models are found mixed with copies made by two later companies. The B. M. C. models can be distinguished from the copies since only the B. M. C. models have full length wire masts cast into the hulls. The first type of copies are 31 models made by "Minifigs" These are cast in solid lead, have no wire masts and have large numbers inscribed on the bottom. The second type of copies comprise a group of four models made by Crescent which are cast in pot metal. They have numbers near the starboard stern numbering B.1, B.2, B.3, or B.4. Curiously, these pot metal models retain the same numbering system that is cast into the hulls of the four B. M. C models from which they were derived. These Crescent copies mimic the B. M. C. castings of the B. I Duncan, B. II Swiftsure, B. III King Edward VII, and the B. IV Lord Nelson. It is unknown when Bassett Lowke ceased carrying the B. M. C metal ship models, however Derek Head in his book on page 12, states that metal ship models continued to be carried until the 1920’s. In the present day, the larger highly accurate wood and wire ship models in the scale of one inch to 1200 inches or 1:1200, is are what command the high prices at auction. These hand crafted ship models continued to be sold commercially until the mid1960's and had also been purchased by the military for recognition and war gaming purpose. Unlike the B. M. C. metal models, which were carried only briefly by Bassett Lowke in the early years and are a mystery to most collectors, the larger highly finished 100 to 1 inch or 1/1200 scale wooden ship models are greatly sought after by collectors and command high prices at auctions. The Derek Head book, "Bassett Lowke Waterline Ship Models" will reward ship model collectors with an extensive and colorful survey of both the metal B. M. C. ships and the expensive, detailed, hand crafted ship models, many from his own collection.
Модельные поезда
Bassett Lowke производил поезда от 15-дюймовых (381 мм) моделей с живым паром до поездов калибров 2, 1 и 0. Первым 15-дюймовым паровозом, прошедшим испытания на железной дороге Итон-Холл в 1905 году, был "Маленький гигант". В отличие от других локомотивов на этой линии, он представлял собой копию локомотивов основной сети, построенную для общедоступной миниатюрной железной дороги в Блэкпуле. Это был локомотив типа 4-4-2 "Атлантик" с тендером, уменьшенный в масштабе 1:4, хотя и не являлся точной копией какого-либо конкретного прототипа. Этот локомотив до сих пор находится в частной собственности. В 1909 году, совместно с Генри Гринли, У. Дж. Бассетт Лоук основал и редактировал журнал "Model Railways and Locomotives Magazine". В 1914 году Бассетт Лоук изготовил второй локомотив типа "Пацифик" 4-6-2 любого размера, построенный в Великобритании (первым был GWR 111 "The Great Bear"). Это был "Джон Энтони", построенный для миниатюрной железной дороги в Стаутон-Манор, Кембриджшир. Он так и не был доставлен, но после хранения на железной дороге Итон-Холл во время Первой мировой войны был продан железной дороге Равенгласс и Эскдейл и переименован в "Колосс". Он был списан в 1927 году. Железная дорога Равенгласс и Эскдейл также приобрела другой локомотив "Атлантик" производства Bassett Lowke – "Sans Pareil". В 1920-х годах Бассетт Лоук начал выпускать продукцию калибра 00. Компания предлагала изготовление железных дорог по индивидуальному заказу, и одна из таких макетов с колеей 1 сохранилась в модифицированном виде в Модельной деревне Беконскот в Англии. В 1939 году Бассетт Лоук получил заказ на создание рабочей модели танка Черчилля, известного как "Cultivator No. 6". Упадок Бассетт Лоук, начавшийся в конце 1950-х годов, можно объяснить как минимум двумя факторами: покупатели просматривали бесплатный каталог фирмы и приобретали аналогичные или почти идентичные товары в других местах по более низкой цене; а также интерес к техническим игрушкам снизился в конце 1950-х годов и еще больше в 1960-х годах. Падение Бассетт Лоук отразилось на его американских конкурентах – компаниях A. C. Gilbert и Lionel Corporation. В 1964 году компания прекратила розничные продажи и продала свои магазины, в том числе один на Хай-Холборн в Лондоне, компании Beatties. Бассетт Лоук прекратил свою деятельность в 1965 году. В 1966 году компания была приобретена месье Райли и Дерри. Около 1969 года Иван Резерфорд Скотт, Аллен Л. Леви и Роланд Х. Фуллер, по-видимому, предприняли попытку возродить бизнес по производству модельных железных дорог. В конце 1980-х годов Найджел Тернер, предприниматель из Нортгемптона, выкупил бизнес и разместил его рядом со своим предприятием Turner's Musical Merry Go Round, недалеко от Вуттона, Нортгемптоншир. В 1993 году название было возрождено с выпуском небольших партий моделей из белого металла. Среди них были тяговые двигатели типа Burrell, паровые фургоны типа Clayton, паровые катки типа Burrell и автобусы типа London B. В 1996 году название было приобретено компанией Corgi, которая связала его с локомотивами с живым паром калибра 0. Ключевыми конкурентами Бассетт Лоук были Hornby и Exley. Hornby приобрела Corgi в 2008 году и первоначально продолжала производить модели калибра 0, прежде чем прекратить их выпуск. В 2020 году они возродили название бренда для линейки моделей в стиле стимпанк масштаба 00, основанных на существующих инструментах Hornby.
Узкоколейные железные дороги ООО
В 1912 году В. Дж. Бассет Лоук, Роберт Проктор Митчелл и Джон Уиллс основали Narrow Gauge Railways Ltd (NGR) для продвижения и эксплуатации железных дорог. Ранее существовавшая компания Miniature Railways of Great Britain Ltd прекратила свою деятельность в 1912 году, пройдя процедуру добровольной ликвидации. Первая железная дорога, построенная NGR, открылась в 1912 году в Луна-парке, расположенном в парке Воды Женевы, Швейцария. В Великобритании была приобретена и переоборудована до узкой колеи, а затем вновь открыта в 1915 году железная дорога Ravenglass and Eskdale. В 1916 году последовала железная дорога Фэрборн в Уэльсе.
Хорнби
Название Bassett Lowke было приобретено компанией Corgi после ликвидации компании в 1965 году, которая использовала его для линейки Corgi Classics. Компания Corgi (и бренд Bassett Lowke) была приобретена Hornby в 2008 году, которая использовала его для традиционных железнодорожных моделей из листового металла. В 2020 году Hornby использовала брендинг Bassett Lowke для запуска линейки железнодорожных моделей в стиле стимпанк. В 2021 году под брендом Bassett Lowke была выпущена линейка строительных моделей из кирпичиков в стиле стимпанк под названием "brickpunk", ориентированная как на детей, так и на взрослых.
Локомотивы
Локомотивы Bassett Lowke часто получали новые имена при переходе на другие железные дороги, что иногда затрудняло определение, является ли локомотив новым или переименованным старым. Представленный список (вероятно, неполный) не является исчерпывающим. Большинство локомотивов Bassett Lowke были спроектированы Генри Гринли, который публиковался в журнале Model Engineer.
Класс 30 Атлантический
Синода для миниатюрной железной дороги Сэнд-Хаттон, затем в Белл-Вью (Манчестер), позже в Саутхенд-он-Си, а сейчас (2019) на железной дороге Равенгласс и Эскдейл. Sans Pareil для парка развлечений Луна Парк в Женеве (Швейцария), затем на железную дорогу Равенгласс и Эскдейл. Count Louis для графа Луиса Зборовского, затем на железную дорогу Фейрборн, далее на лёгкую железную дорогу Эвешам-Вейл, а теперь (2019) совершает туры по железным дорогам Великобритании.
Тихоокеанский океан
Джон Энтони для J. E. P. Howey, затем (переименованный в Colossus) в Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway. У локомотивов серий 10 и 20 были узкие топки. У локомотивов серий 30 и 60 были широкие топки.