Today's Charity Shop Bargain...

[ffutures]

...was one of these



Condition not as nice as this, there are water marks around the filler and some mild corrosion on the steering axle, and the water gauge is a bit grungy, but I think it's in working order, won't know for sure until I can get some fuel tablets and test it - there wasn't any with it so I just walked a couple of miles to a shop in Camden that i thought would have it, only to find that it closed down several months ago. Never mind, it's easy to get on ebay.

This cost me £20, and since they seem to be on offer for more than £100 on eBay I think I got a good deal - I'll probably play with it for a while then sell it on.

Comments

[jeriendhal.livejournal.com]

Oh nice. I should get one of those for my son. He loves steam engines.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

The Mamod ones seem to be reasonably well made, but with any steam engine you need to watch out for corrosion etc. and build-up of calcium deposits.

You lucky (insert expletive here...)

[original-aj.livejournal.com]

I'd love one of those, never been able to justify the cost but for £20 I would manage to... Unless it's got something badly wrong internally it should be fixable, and tweaking it to run well should be fun.

Mind you, I don't have room for one but that doesn't usually stop me acquiring new toys!

Re: You lucky (insert expletive here...)

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Well yes - I have no idea why it was given to the charity shop, hoping there doesn't turn out to be a serious problem, but short of that I have been VERY lucky.

Re: You lucky (insert expletive here...)

[original-aj.livejournal.com]

Probably one of those decluttering maniacs prised it from the previous owner's fingers..... ;)

[willibald.livejournal.com]

I always thought Mamod used a meths burner rather than fuel tablets (as were used in the German Wilesco models that were available at the same time). My Fodenesque steam lorry certainly does, perhaps yours is a later, more safety conscious version.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

They used to, but they started using tablets at some point, I'd imagine there were safety issues with meths. Some kid probably set fire to a bottle or something.