Whitanco

Whiteley Tansey and Company Ltd

(Liverpool, UK)

A few notes from Doug Harris, in New Zealand :

'Whitanco' is an abbreviation of the company name Whiteley Tansey & Company Ltd, an English company first registered in 1912 and operating from Beech Street, Liverpool, which means that they must have been operating in proximity to the Hornby/Meccano factory. One of the directors, a Mr Whiteley, is believed to have worked for Meccano Ltd as a toolmaker. Whitanco went into receivership in 1921, and ceased trading in 1924.

Whitanco Mechanical Toys British Made

Whitanco 0-4-0 loco numbered 696

Whitanco Midland Railway Boxed Set

Whitanco GNR open wagon	Whitanco GNR open wagon
Whitanco GNR open wagon	Whitanco GNR open wagon

Whitanco GNR open wagon

Whitanco LNWR open wagon

Whitanco Richmond Station	Whitanco Richmond Station
Whitanco Richmond Station	Whitanco Richmond Station

Whitanco Richmond Station

Special thanks to Doug Harris, Hans van Dissel and other members of the TCS Yahoo Group for information and photos, both of which are very much appreciated.

Whitanco clockwork Midland Railway passenger set, 0-4-0 loco number 333

Whitanco clockwork 0-4-0 loco, green livery, number 333, missing side rods and tender

Whitanco clockwork 4-4-0 loco, GNR green livery, floor toy

An interesting 8 wheeled passenger coach, in the style of Hornby No 2s or similar, constructed using parts from two Whitanco Midland Railway 4 wheeled composite coaches, each numbered 333. A one piece roof would be a great improvement.

Whitanco Midland Railway passenger coach(es)

Very many thanks to Carl Whiteley for the most recent photos, below. Carl is a direct descendant of 'Whitanco', and describes himself thus :

Hi, my name is Carl Whiteley, my Grandfather was the joint owner of Whiteley Tansley & Co Beech Street Liverpool from 1912 to 1924. They manufactured tin plate trains and toys, employing over 300 people in 1919. My Grandfather died in 1923 which could not have helped with the demise of the Company. Due to the fact that my Grandmother died a few months later in 1924, my father was then at 5 years old taken to be bought up in Wakefield Yorkshire by his Grandfather. The only thing remaining was the 1921 Catalogue which I received after my elder sister died in 1997. I have been researching the company and collecting the toys since then and have a good collection. Of course I still keep a look out for the toys and I have researched the family. So if I can help anyone with 'Whitanco' just let me know.

Whitanco Four wheeled clockwork loco, number 696	Whitanco Four wheeled passenger coach in LNWR livery
Whitanco 4-4-0 floor toy loco and tender in Great Northern livery	Whitanco 4-4-0 floor toy loco and tender in Great Northern livery
Whitanco tunnel	Whitanco footbridge
Whitanco Clockwork 333 set in Midland Railway livery	Whitanco Four wheeled open wagon, LNWR livery
US Patent 1559392-0 granted to Ernest Whiteley, for track design	Whitanco advertisement from Boys Own Paper December1921
Whitanco catalogue extract, showing 696 loco	Whitanco catalogue extract, showing Assembly and Packing Departments