Wilesco is the

trade name A trade name, trading name, or business name, is a pseudonym used by companies that do not operate under their registered company name. The term for this type of alternative name is a "fictitious" business name. Registering the fictitious name w ...

of German toy company Wilhelm Schröder GmbH & Co. KG, known for manufacturing

live steam Live steam is steam under pressure, obtained by heating water in a boiler. The steam is used to operate stationary or moving equipment. A live steam machine or device is one powered by steam, but the term is usually reserved for those that ar ...

toys such as

steamroller A steamroller (or steam roller) is a form of road roller – a type of heavy construction machinery used for leveling surfaces, such as roads or airfields – that is powered by a steam engine. The leveling/flattening action is achieved through ...

traction engine A traction engine is a steam engine, steam-powered tractor used to move heavy loads on roads, plough ground or to provide power at a chosen location. The name derives from the Latin ''tractus'', meaning 'drawn', since the prime function of any t ...

stationary steam engine Stationary steam engines are fixed steam engines used for pumping or driving mills and factories, and for power generation. They are distinct from locomotive engines used on railways, traction engines for heavy steam haulage on roads, steam cars ...

s, and numerous accessories such as countershafts and drive models. Initially a producer of aluminium forks and spoons, the company expanded into miniature aluminium accessories for doll's tea parties in the 1920s. This decision also helped the company weather the economic crisis of the late 1920s and early 1930s because these toys were also exported to the US. In 1950, Wilesco started manufacturing miniature steam engines. In 1966, the D36 "Old Smokey" steamroller was introduced which has been popular among collectors and continues to be produced. The company also manufactures various accessories for their steam engines such as electrical generators, steam workshops and fairground rides. While most of their steam engine models are heated by

esbit A hexamine fuel tablet (or heat tablet, Esbit) is a form of solid fuel in tablet form. The tablets burn smokelessly, have a high energy density, do not liquefy while burning and leave no ashes. Invented in Murrhardt, Germany, in 1936, the ma ...

, electrical heating is also available. Steam-powered toy locomotives (

G scale Large scale or G scale (, G gauge) is a track gauge for model railways which is often used for outdoor garden railways because of its size and durability. G scale trains use a fixed track gauge of to accommodate a range of rail transport m ...

) and an

open wagon Open wagons (trucks in the UK) form a large group of railway goods wagons designed primarily for the transportation of bulk goods that are not moisture-retentive and can usually be tipped, dumped or shovelled. The International Union of Ra ...

were also available from Wilesco for a while. The company still manufactures a range of plastic and aluminium scoops and hooks, as well as steam toys. Wilesco's main rival is the British-based steam model manufacturer:

Mamod Mamod is a British toy manufacturer that specializes in manufacturing live steam models. The company was founded in Birmingham by Geoffrey Malins in 1937. The name is a portmanteau of Malins Models. The first models produced were of stationary ...

. Mamod and Wilesco produce similar models, at similar prices and size range.

Gallery

File:Wilesco D3 steam engine.jpg, D3, one of the lowest-priced Wilesco engines File:Wilesco D6 steam engine, running.jpg, A running Wilesco D6 File:Wilesco D16 steam engine1.jpg, Wilesco D16; 1970s (colours not original) File:Wilesco-dampfmaschine-D161.jpg, Wilesco D161 (same engine as D16, but with workshop) File:Wilesco D32.jpg, A 1970s twin-cylinder D32 File:Wilesco D36 1.jpg, "Old Smokey" D36

(1980s) File:Wilesco d36 3.jpg, Closeup view of the steam cylinder and safety valve of "Old Smokey" File:Wilesco D366.jpg, D366, an all-brass version of "Old Smokey" File:Wilesco D40 model steam Traction Engine - front view.jpg, Wilesco D40 model steam

- front view

References

External links

Official German siteOfficial USA site
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Wilesco models picture galleryToySteamBible.org: Wilesco
__NOTOC__ {{Authority control Toy companies of Germany Toy steam engine manufacturers Toy train manufacturers German brands Companies based in North Rhine-Westphalia Toy companies established in 1912 German companies established in 1912

Gallery

See also

References

External links