James Bedington, trading as The Birmingham Model Engineering Co and Tessted was a jobbing manufacturer for a large number of companies including Stevens Model Dockyard, Bassett-Lowke (one of the Bedington family sat on the BL Board) and Clyde Model Dockyard (which ordered by far the most impressive products in G III). In 1907 Tessted started selling their products under their own name; prior to this their anonimity was very useful to many and has resulted in all sorts of mis-attributions, most of which will never be rectified. Suffice to say that much British made product assumed to be Radiguet (locos) and/or Stevens (plant) actually originated in the Bedington works which was rebuilt specifically for the manufacture of toy steam locos and plant in 1892. We can assume a production span from at least 1892 - 1912, in Gauges I, II, III and IV along with various non-standard gauges.
The Meccano sets known today began life as Mechanics Made Easy, the original name used in 1901 by Frank Hornby for his then new construction toy. The first enthusiast within the toy industry for Hornby's new product was Percy Bedington of James Bedington and Son, trading as Tessted. Acknowledging Bedington's support and enthusiasm, Hornby's early Mechanics Made Easy boxes illustrated a Tessted 'dribbler' while later boxes showed a Tessted 4-4-0 locomotive. Furthermore, the first steam engines sold for use with Mechanics Made Easy in 1907 were made by Tessted. Hornby registered the Meccano trademark in 1907, and formed Meccano Limited the following year.
An early Meccanics Made Easy set, illustrating a Tessted Dribbler |
Tessted Gauge III spirit-fired 4-4-2 NBR Locomotive No. 868 with six-wheel tender Image credit Christie's |
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