Palitoy

(Coalville, Leicestershire, UK)

Palitoy was a British toy company, created by the Cascelloid Company which was formed by Alfred Pallett in Leicestershire, 1919. The first toy was produced by Cascelloid in 1920, although the name Palitoy was not used for toys until 1935. The name Palitoy has a long and interesting history, summarises within Wikipedia, and in greater detail at The V&A Museum of Childhood.

Palitoy introduced a modest range of electric trains during the 1950s, although never very popular when sold or later with collectors, at least partially due to the unusual scale chosen. The track gauge is 26mm, which is almost but not quite American Flyer S gauge, although plastic sleepers (ties) which tend to warp makes the gauge variable at best.

Various boxed sets are illustrated, although no attempt has been made to establish a chronological order. Which came first, the Prarie Tank loco or A3 loco? Logic would suggest the more realistic tank loco with prototypically coloured coaches followed the A3.

The first set illustrated below is the Palitoy Scale Model Electric Train Set featuring a GWR 61xx Prarie tank loco numbered 66110 in BR black, with two four wheeled coaches, red battery controller and 2 rail track.

Palitoy Scale Model Electric Train Set	Palitoy Scale Model Electric Train Set
Palitoy Scale Model Electric Train Set	Palitoy Scale Model Electric Train Set

The second set illustrated is similar to the above, although with a different box lid illustration and blue (rather than red) battery controller.

Palitoy Scale Model Electric Train Set

Palitoy Scale Model Electric Train Set

The third set illustrated contains loco number 5010 in black, an A3 named Flying Scot with British Railways on the tender. The two coaches and battery controller are both now green. The box illustration is as the first set above, although with different wording.