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Wells Brimtoy – POCKETOY SERIES

in addition : Wells Brimtoy Pocketoy Series

In response for more information on Brimtoy ‘Pocketoys’, with particular emphasis on the picture element, I have included this short post. So as not to repeat myself and become even more boring this post should be read along side my earlier Wells-Brimtoy one which included a ‘Pocketoy’ section.

Pocketoys were launched in 1952 and whilst the majority of the series was based around the Bedford trucks a variety of other vehicles were included.

Along side the Bedfords came what most people instantly recognise as one of the ‘Pocketoy’ series and that is one of the many double decker buses the majority of which were based on the good old London red Routemaster.

But the series did include a raft of other road vehicles including bulldozers, coaches, caravans etc. but as its the Bedford trucks which were the dominant factor its those that we see most often at fairs and for sale on the internet.

Pocketoys, as the name suggests, were made to a size which in theory would fit into your pocket (not rocket science !) and the majority were around 3.5″ in length (89mm) although some, like the articulated lorries, were much longer.

But Pocketoys were not only made to fit the pocket in terms of size they also fitted the pocket in terms of price. With prices starting from around the 2/6d mark (12.5p in todays dosh) they were relatively affordable by most, indeed I can remember many times as a young lad debating long and hard whether to blow my whole weeks pocket money on a Pocketoy or save half and spend the rest on sweets and pop !

The vehicles themselves regardless of size were either friction or clockwork driven and either of tinplate or a mixture of tinplate and plastic in construction. The model came in a simple card box with end/tuck-in flaps usually with a coloured line drawn illustration to the outer. Included would be a colour brochure detailing the models available in the series.

As for the number of  different models which made up the Pocketoy series ? well to be honest quite frankly I haven’t a clue. I believe in 1955 there were some 57 models featured in the Pocketoy sales brochure but when the later models were issued we are looking at models numbered 500+. Just whether that model number in fact relates to how many different models there were, somehow I doubt it very much, but I don’t have the catalogues to make a valued judgement.

Despite not knowing exactly how many models were available in the series it must be quite extensive for if we take for instance the removal van which Les had bought (see comments) you can see that there were three variants that I am aware of and thats just from the earlier issues !

So if anyone out there has any Pocketoy brochures or can shed any further light on this matter please get in touch I’ll be happy to hear from you and to Les and the others I hope this extra info/pics is useful.

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  1. Tony Dunn
    August 24th, 2013 at 19:27 | #1

    I have two of the Wells Brimtoy RAF Mountain Rescue Bedford lorries. Both are in very good condition but there seems to be a lot of extra bits for one which I am trying to find out about. I have two patients on stretches which fit on the holes inside the back, and the spare wheel held on by a spit clip above the cab.

    But there are two lugs next to where the spare wheel is attached above the cab – did this hold a plastic ladder which came with my purchase? Also a hole in the nearside wing – did this hold an aerial?

    I have seen a picture of another version of this model with a two tone body and a plastic cab where mine are all tinplate, so I know that there are at least two versions.

    Can anyone date either of these models for me? I hear they are 1950s and were number 6 in the series. They are about 7 inches long.

    Are they particularly rare? The plastic cab one is on ebay asking £165 and that is without accessories.

    By the way, although they are pretty enough, I dont rate them as practical childrens models, as the tin strip joining the cab to the back is so thin the model bends in the middle when pushed. Perhaps the later ones were strengthened?
    Many thanks

    Tony

  2. dave
    August 26th, 2013 at 17:17 | #2

    Hi Tony,
    Most of what you surmise re the RAF Mountain Rescue Bedford truck is correct and I’m not certain as to how much more help I can be.
    Lets start with the RAF Mountain Rescue Lorry.
    RAF RESCUE

  3. Richard Morris
    April 7th, 2017 at 19:16 | #3

    Hi
    I’ve got a collection of around 65 different Pocket toy lorries. I only collect the later ones, that is the Bedford ‘S’ type and the squarer ones. When I say I have 65 I mean 65 different ‘backs’, i.e. I don’t have the Esso tanker with the ‘S’ cab and the square cab, I just have one. I also don’t have a clockwork, a friction and a non-motorized version. I just have one lorry of each ‘back’ type. I’m sure there are a couple I don’t have.
    Rich

  4. dave
    April 13th, 2017 at 19:35 | #4

    Hi there Richard, what can I say ? At least with the Pocketoys they don’t take up a tremendous amount of space, still 65 takes some doing. Just how many were produced I would love to know. I think I might start buying up Pocketoy catalogues from various years and see if I can work it out, but if anyone can give me a definitive on this it would be appreciated. However thanks to Rich we know of at least 65 !!
    Cheers, David.

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