The Leeds Model Company ('LMC' or 'Leeds') originated in 1912 with Rex Stedman. The company started with a range of die cast parts for signals, rolling stock and locomotives. LMC were best known for their large range of locomotives, from freelance to exhibition-class specimens, as well as coaches and wagons made from wood with applied paper lithography. Starting from the late 30's, coaches as well as wagons were made from bakelite.
In 1925 LMC merged with the Bristol Model Company. Rex Stedman left LMC in 1928 to found a new company under the name of R.F. Stedman & Co. He later purchased the LMC company, continuing to trade under the R.F. Stedman name. Stedman finally left in 1931, when the name reverted to Leeds Model Company. In 1953, Leeds Model Company became Ellemsee Accessories. The company survived until 1967.
These pages are dedicated the standard catalogue products of the Leeds Model Company, and show items from the collection of Peter Zwakhals, Hans van Dissel and Barend Westerveld.
1920-1932: 1st series Standard Tank Locomotives
The first series Standard Tank Locomotives was made from 1920 until 1932. The concept of Rex Stedman was to produce a near scale product from a recognisable prototype. He tried to make the widest possible range at minimum costs. He achieved this by re-using most of the standard parts from the LMC range. Initially the 4-4-0 Tank loco was made. In subsequent catalogues another four versions of the first series tank locomotives were described: a 4-4-2 Tank, a 4-6-0 Tank, a 0-4-4 Tank and a 0-6-2 Tank.
LO/109: L.N.E.R. 4-4-0 Standard Tank Locomotive, black, 6-8 volts D.C., 1925-32.
LO/110: L.M.S. 4-4-0 Standard Tank Locomotive, black, 6-8 volts D.C., 1925-32.
LO/110: L.M.S. 4-4-0 Standard Tank Locomotive, maroon, 6-8 volts D.C., 1925-32.
LO/111: G.W.R. 4-4-0 Standard Tank Locomotive, green (repainted), 6-8 volts D.C., 1925-32.
Note the difference in chimney, dome and safety valve from the versions above. This was the way in which Stedman succeeded in giving his standard design the characteristic and looks of the engines of the several railway companies (Hans van Dissel collection).
LO/123: L.M.S. 4-4-2 Standard Tank Locomotive, black, 6-8 volts D.C., 1925-32 (Barend Westerveld collection).
LO/173: S.R. 0-4-4 Standard Tank Locomotive, green, 6-8 volts D.C., 1925-32.
LO/183: S.R 0-6-2 Standard Tank Locomotive, maroon, 6-8 volts D.C., 1925-29.
LO/133: L.N.E.R. 4-6-0 Standard Tank Locomotive, black, 6-8 volts D.C., 1925-32 (Barend Westerveld collection).
LO/134: L.M.S. 4-6-0 Standard Tank Locomotive, maroon, 6-8 volts D.C., 1925-32.
Initially LMC adopted the M.R. style for the post-grouping L.M.S. with a L.M.S. crest on the bunker.
LO/134: L.M.S. 4-6-0 Standard Tank Locomotive, black (repainted), 6-8 volts D.C., 1925-32 (Hans van Dissel collection).
The chief fault with LMC models is flaking paint due to poor cleaning and priming before they were painted. Professional repaints (as with the loco above) are relatively common and do not greatly effect the value of Leeds locomotives.
1935-1959: 2nd series Standard Tank Locomotives.
In 1935 the second series of 6 standard tank locomotives came on the market. Some of the range, albeit in kit form, survived until the company finally ceased trading in 1967. These locos were nearer to scale than the first series. They are the products for which LMC is best remembered. As usual with LMC, L.N.E.R. was well represented with a G.C.R. Class G5 0-4-4 Tank, a G.E.R. Class F4 2-4-2 Tank and a G.C.R. Class N5 0-6-2 Tank. L.M.S. was catered for by a L. & Y. 0-6-2 Tank and a L. & Y. 2-4-2 Tank, while Southern enthusiasts had a L.S.W.R. Adams Class T1 0-4-4 Tank.
LD/10: L.N.E.R. 0-4-4 Scale Model Tank Locomotive, red lined (pre-war) black, 12 volts D.C., 1935-38/39.
LD/11: L.N.E.R. 2-4-2 Scale Model Tank Locomotive, red lined (pre-war) black (repainted), 12 volts D.C., 1935-38/39 (Hans van Dissel collection).
LA/12: L.N.E.R. 0-6-2 Scale Model Tank Locomotive, red lined (pre-war) black, 20 volts A.C., 1935-38/39.
LD/12: L.N.E.R. 0-6-2 Scale Model Tank Locomotive, green, 12 volts D.C., 1948-59 (Hans van Dissel collection).
LD/15: L.M.S. 0-6-0 Freelance Tank Locomotive, black, 12 volts D.C., 1948-59.
After WWII a 7th model was introduced in the standard series tanks. The model was close to a 'Jinty' tank. This loco was made in black for L.M.S. and B.R., green and yellow for S.R. and green and black for the L.N.E.R.
LD/16: L.N.E.R. 0-6-0 Freelance Tank Locomotive, green, 12 volts D.C., 1948-59.
LD/17: S.R. 0-6-0 Freelance Tank Locomotive, green, 12 volts D.C., 1948-59.
LD/20: L.M.S. 0-6-2 Scale Model Tank Locomotive, red lined (pre-war) black, 12 volts D.C., 1935-38/39.
LD/21: L.M.S. 2-4-2 Scale Model Tank Locomotive, unlined (post-war) black, 12 volts D.C., 1948-59.
LD/22: S.R. 0-4-4 Scale Model Tank Locomotive, green, 12 volts D.C., 1935-59.
1922-1959: Scale Model- and Freelance Locomotives.
LO/352: L.N.E.R. 4-6-0 Express Locomotive, B2 Sir Sam Fay Class 'City of London', green, 6-8 volts D.C., 1925-38/39.
LO/202: L.N.E.R. 4-4-0 Express Locomotive, D11 Improved Director Class 'Prince George', black, 6-8 volts D.C., 1925-38/39.
LO/202: L.N.E.R. 4-4-0 Express Locomotive, D11 Improved Director Class 'Mons', black, 6-8 volts D.C., 1925-38/39.
LO/202: L.N.E.R. 4-4-0 Express Locomotive, D11 Improved Director Class 'Butler Henderson', green (repainted), 6-8 volts D.C., 1925-38/39 (Hans van Dissel collection).
DWG/241: G.W.R. 0-6-0 Class 5700 Pannier Tank, green, 12 volts D.C., 1951-59.
After WWII the company could not support a model making staff, so LMC used skilled outworkers for the introduction of five new special order models, including the Pannier Tank. They were first introduced in the 1952 catalogue.
G.W.R. Churchward 4-4-0 County locomotive 'County of Middlesex', green, clockwork, made by Leeds for Bassett-Lowke from 1922.
LO/348: G.W.R. 2-6-0 Mixed Traffic Locomotive, 'Mogul' type, green, 6-8 volts D.C., 1927-38/39.
On the regular LMC principle that nothing should be wasted, the tooling for the County for Bassett-Lowke was used supply the body and the tender for the GWR 2-6-0 'Mogul'.
LO/358: L.M.S. 0-6-0 Goods Locomotive, black (repainted), 12 volts D.C., 1928-57 (Hans van Dissel collection).
This is a model of the ex Caledonian Pickersgill 0-6-0.
LD/358: B.R. 0-6-0 Goods Locomotive, black, 12 volts D.C., 1948-57.
The 0-6-0 Goods locomotive was also supplied in B.R. livery from 1948 onwards.
LD/50/S: L.M.S. 4-4-0 Freelance Tender Locomotive, black, 12 volts D.C., 1952-57.
This is the version with outside cylinders and smoke apparatus.
LD/50: L.M.S. 4-4-0 Freelance Tender Locomotive, black, 12 volts D.C., 1947-57 (Hans van Dissel collection)
LD/53/S: B.R. 4-4-0 Freelance Tender Locomotive, black, 12 volts D.C., 1952-57.
This is the version with outside cylinders and smoke apparatus.
1922-1959: Standard Saddle Tank Locomotives.
One of the most distinctive of the freelance models was the 0-4-0 Saddle Tank Locomotive. This became the longest lived model in the LMC range, being available for over 40 years starting from the early 20's.
LO/161: L.M.S. 0-4-0 Saddle Tank Locomotive, black (repainted), clockwork, 1922-27.
Starting from 1922 the 0-4-0 Tank was offered in clockwork only. The 1926-27 catalogue was the last in which clockwork was specified for this loco.
LO/160: L.N.E.R. 0-4-0 Saddle Tank Locomotive, green, 6-8 volts D.C., 1925-32.
NEW ADDITION
On the right a pre-war (1935-38/39) L.N.E.R. 0-4-0 Saddle Tank Locomotive (LD/160) in black. Next a post-war S.R. 0-4-0 Saddle Tank Locomotive (LD/10/S) in black and a post-war G.W.R. 0-4-0 Saddle Tank Locomotive (LD/10/S) in green, both with smoke unit.
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. On the left is a pre-war L.M.S. 0-4-0 Saddle Tank Locomotive (LD/161), on the right the post-war B.R. version, fitted with outside cylinders and a smoke unit (LD/10/S). In the middle is a Japanese copy from the thirties, made by Seki and sold in Great Britain as Stronlite. The toolbox of the LMC models has been heightened on the Stronlite to make room for the electric motor. Note how on the Stronlite the driving gears double as the wheel flanges; the wheels are also much more coarse scale than those on the Leeds ones (Hans van Dissel collection).
1935-1959: Sentinel-Cammell Rail Car 'Nettle'.
Just before Rex Stedman left LMC in 1930, he designed the L.N.E.R. Sentinel-Cammell steam rail car. This loco was made from 1935 until the 50's. The body of the model is made of wood.
SC/1: L.N.E.R. Sentinel-Cammell Rail Car 'Nettle', running No. 233, 1935-1959.
DB/1: The power bogie for the Sentinel-Cammell Rail Car was a standard Electric Motor Bogie. It was also used to power the Brighton Belle. Initially it was a 6-8 volts D.C. (left) and used the standard white metal coach axleguards. After the war (right) it was changed to 12 volts D.C. and used the Newalloy diecast bogie sides used for the bakelite coaches.