Welso

(Walthamstow, London)

Brimtoy began as BMTM (British Metal and Toy Manufacturers) in 1914, with a factory in Hackney, London. BMTM continued until 1921, when the company was liquidated. From the ashes of BMTM arose Brimtoy, in 1923, continuing until 1932 when Brimtoy merged with (or more accurately, was absorbed by) Wells.

Alfred or Alfie Wells launched his toy company in 1919, from the Progress Works in Walthamstow, London. The well known trademark Wells O' London was launched in 1924.

When Brimtoy was acquired by Wells in 1932, Wells was the dominant partner and the factories were merged in Walthamstow, around 1938. Following the absorbtion of Brimtoy by Wells, the company continued to use both the Wells and Brimtoys names, as well as Wells Brimtoy, and the newly intoduced (c1955) Welso, which does not help with identification or dating today. Wells Brimtoy continued to operate from Walthamstow until 1965, then moving to Holyhead (Anglesey, Wales), before being taken over (c1970) by the Central Manufacturing and Trading Group (CMT). The company continued trading as CMT Wells Kelo, in Holyhead, until the end of the 1980s.

Welso 00 gauge clockwork train set

Welso Super Size 00 gauge clockwork train set

Andrew Reid was kind enough to make contact regarding the clockwork tank loco in the sets above. Difficult to disagree with Andrew's conclusions.

I have done some research on the body design inspiration for the Welso Brimtoy OO clockwork loco and it appears to be very closely based on the LNER (ex-GER) Wells class Y4 0-4-0 shunting loco. There were only five of these locos built and they were all based at Walthamstow shed. They were withdrawn from service by 1963. The only difference between the Y4 and the Welso Brimtoy body design is the cab, because the Y4 didn't have a rear coal bunker. The model loco's coal bunker addition was a necessity for installing the clockwork mechanism. The Y4 also had dumb wooden buffers, as with the clockwork model.

On close inspection of the detail, on the body shell and the photographs of the Y4, there are too many similarities, especially around the smoke box area detailing, water tanks, boiler, Belpaire firebox, safety valves, tool boxes, etc.

LNER Y4 0-4-0, inspiration for the Welso 00 gauge clockwork tank loco?

A fellow enthusiast made available these wonderful catalogue scans some years ago but, unfortunately, I cannot now remember who that was. Sorry!

Extracts from Welso 32 page catalogue, 1962

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