News & Events

Mike's Updates

Thursday 28/03/2024

I am attending the HRCA 55th Anniversary show at the Lady Eastwood Centre Newark (Post code NG24 2NY) on the weekend of the 6th and 7th April just over a week to go.  I will have  6 tables of good quantity Hornby & Bassett Lowke 0 Gauge stock. I hope to see and speak to a number of fellow collectors and those interested in the Vintage 0 Gauge English manufactured items from the 1910 through to the 1950’s.

I am listing new items as they become available I have been away for a few days so placing new items on the site has come to a stop I will try to add more items in the coming week but take a look at the site there are some very interesting quality items  including a  E120 Special Loco & Tender GWR, E220 Special ‘County of Bedford’ in Excellent/plus overall condition and others, many matching No.1 and 2 Passenger coaches. A good quantity of accessories, Stations, a rare BRISTOL electric Island platform, Passenger platforms, Signals, Lamps standards etc…. so keep coming back ………………….

I have a number of items on the site to suit all types of vintage 0 Gauge collectors from £12 post war wagons to an early Private owner van ‘Colemans’ mustard van at £950. Bassett lowke Winteringham wagons from £28 to a GWR Prairie Electric loco at £1100 (Now sold) and many more items……………. so keep looking………

Post office parcel prices will increase in April, I have the new rate which I will add later this week. Current Parcel prices – For the UK – Please be aware I only use Royal Mail 1st class and Special Delivery (note Special Delivery parcels over 2 kilos to 10 kilos). Prices are 2-10 kilo = £17 insured to £750 and £20 insured to £2500. 1.0 -1.99 kilo = £13 and up to 1 kilo = £10, 1st class parcel signed for £5.50 (small parcel) Medium £7.50 – up to 2.00 kilo.

On Parcels to Holland, France and Germany are taking a few extra days, but there appears to be a vast improvement in delivery times in the last 6 months. 

CAN ANY ONE HELP……..The Post Office has removed (or hidden) a form for calculating postage costs to the UK and overseas destinations, and the information available now is ‘as clear as Mud’. I am trying to calculate accurate overseas postage costs but have not had a lot of success at the moment, I will just keep trying, if anyone out there can point me in the right direction, I would be pleased to hear from you.

Thank you to all customers who are paying through the website that should be easy for you if you are having difficulties please let me know. I am aware that the website link was broken earlier this week 23/04/2024 which did not allow customers to pay for items, I apologies we are looking into what went wrong, it is now repaired and working as it should. There has been a bank transfer matching problems apparently my name did not match the name on the bank account so I have changed it to comply with the bank details I have always been known as Mike but the account is under ‘Michael Delaney T/A Vintage Toys’, so apologies to those who were effected. 

PayPal – I do not accept PayPal as a direct payment unless agreed with me. Paypal charge me 5.1% once the money hits the paypal account before any transfer to my Bank account. I find this percentage of deduction by them to be wholly unacceptable, these costs are not included in my costs of selling. There is a transfer facility under Friend and Family for which I understand there is no charge, so please, I will reluctantly accept that method as a last resort. I closed one of my Paypal accounts a few weeks ago because paypal held on to the money and would not allow the money to be transferred to my bank account so I had to return the payment to the sender.

Payments can be made directly on the site which is fully secure, and I have to complete an annual audit to make sure that I comply. If you prefer you can ring me with card details, pay by Direct Bank Transfer or send a Cheque whichever suits you. I am more than happy to talk to anyone who has a problem in making payments or is concerned about security of payment through the internet process. My ultimate aim is to make sure your transaction process is smooth, easy for you to operate, secure, and you are happy with your item. I am all for making it as easy as possible in this complicated world live in today.

Don’t forget to support/attend your local events and for me under the HRCA banner that will be Mortimer near Reading and for the Bassett Lowke Society at Digswell AL6 0EA, so go along and enjoy the running events.

 I have been adding Bassett Lowke items including a Black electric Royal Scot, electric Compound, Electric GWR Prairie Tank Loco, an unbelievable Bassett Lowke Peckett Tank Loco in Clockwork which is still available, continuing to add Winteringham 1930’s wagons in LMS, GWR and SR all types including Open, Covered and Brake vans, I will keep trying to add items and have adding a Near Mint LNER 4-4-0 Loco & Tender in 3-rail electric this is in stunning original condition with a matching Bing 1921/24 Brake end coach (both have now been sold) as well as a Bing Cauliflower so keep looking. I also have a number of Exley coaches. On the larger Gauge front, I have nothing more to add. I have purchased some Dinky toys in the diecast section.

Collections of Hornby and Bassett Lowke are still coming in, and offers are being made on a weekly basis, so the layout and running is taking a back step on too many occasions. I have done a little work on the layout and have just installed a new bridge superbly built by one of the Bassett Lowke layout organisers, who has built this for me in the style of the wooden buildings made by Bassett Lowke. I do have a lot of work still to do, but I am enjoying running a number of the vintage trains, including Hornby, Bassett Lowke, Leeds, Milbro etc.

A few of the vintage Loco mechs continue to cause problems, and at the moment, I have a CR 4-4-0 laid up with one or 2 others, some are nearly 90 years old, but still very frustrating, I do like to make sure they all run and perform well on the layout. I will try to post some additional pictures so you can see the progress, I hope you will enjoy them. 

Events – The Hornby Mortimer event near Reading has running facilities in 0 and Dublo, every second Wednesday of each month (some dates do change so keep an eye of the magazine for changes) starting at 5.00 pm. The Bassett Lowke meetings at the Cowper Arms Digswell AL6 0EA include the Bassett Lowke 3-rail raised centre 3rd layout. I will publish dates as I am made aware of them. Please support your local events and bring something to run.

When you have placed an order please make sure your basket shows the item/s, and you WILL receive confirmation of the order. If this does not happen, please check your spam box/s to make sure the email/s has not ended up there. Please get in touch with me if you do not receive a total, including the posting/shipping cost. Please do not pay the order until I have added the postage/shipping cost, which will depend on the packed weight of the item/s and the destination. You can always ring me if you have any doubts about your order or other matters on 07979 910760. I accept payment on the site by card or bank transfer.

If you prefer to do it over the phone directly with me or send a cheque or cash, that is fine too.

I realise that we all have a budget to work to, so you can secure any item with a deposit on an agreed time frame, so give me a call to discuss this option if it is of interest. Don’t forget to let me know if you are looking for anything in particular I will always keep a look out and let you know if they are in stock. Additional pictures are available for all items on the site. If you are unsure about an item/s, you can also contact me to discuss the item/s on the phone, and I can also describe it to you.

Many of my recent items have quickly found new homes, so if you are looking for something particular, you can always ask, and I will let you know if/when they are in stock. 

I am always looking for nice items to add to my updates, so if you have something to sell, a single item or a whole collection let me know I might be able to offer you the price you are looking for, we can also offer to sell your items on a commission basis (subject to agreement on the selling price) so give me a ring or email with details.

I do valuations for probate and insurance at competitive rates I will also offer to purchase collections out right with payment transferred direct to you on collection so if you are thinking of selling a collection, require help in disposing of one then give me a call on 07979 910760 or email me at [email protected]

Bassett Lowke Gauge 2-6-2 ‘Prairie’ Tank Loco in green No.6105, 3-rail electric. – Stunning overall condition – £1100

Events

06 Apr

HRCA 55th Anniversary Show

06/04/2024 - 07/04/2024    
10:30 am - 4:00 pm
HRCA 55th Anniversary show at the Newark Showground - More detail to follow on displays - I will be trading with my super stock of [...]
10 Apr

Mortimer Evening Running Event

10/04/2024    
5:00 pm - 9:30 pm
This is the monthly afternoon/evening event with layouts in 0 and Dublo. Come along enjoy the event and bring something to run, or just watch [...]
08 May

Mortimer Evening Running Event

08/05/2024    
5:00 pm - 9:30 pm
This is the monthly afternoon/evening event with layouts in 0 and Dublo. Come along enjoy the event and bring something to run, or just watch [...]
18 May

Sandown Park Toy Fair

18/05/2024    
10:00 am - 3:00 pm
My usual great selection of Gauge 0 & 1 Hornby, Bassett lowke, Milbro and other commercial items will be available I look forward to seeing [...]
25 May

Kidlington Toy Fair

25/05/2024    
10:00 am - 2:30 pm
Kidlington Toy and Train fair - I will have a few tables with my usual high quality Hornby Bassett Lowke and other Vintage 0 Gauge [...]
01 Jun

TCS - Bassett-Lowke Toy Train Show

01/06/2024    
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
This show is being held at the motor museum in Gaydon and as far as I am aware will cover the TCS/Bassett Lowke and Trix [...]
08 Jun

Bassett Lowke Running Day

08/06/2024    
10:00 am - 3:30 pm
Bassett Lowke 3-rail track for running facilities. Please bring something to run and chat to like minded members and collectors.
12 Jun

Mortimer Evening Running Event

12/06/2024    
5:00 pm - 9:30 pm
This is the monthly afternoon/evening event with layouts in 0 and Dublo. Come along enjoy the event and bring something to run, or just watch [...]
15 Jun

Alresford Festival of Trains

15/06/2024    
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Festival of toy trains is back, all type all makes and I will be there with my super Vintage Hornby, Bassett Lowke and other Vintage [...]
07 Sep

Sandown Park Toy Fair

07/09/2024    
10:00 am - 3:00 pm
My usual great selection of Hornby, Bassett Lowke, Milbro and other manufacturers Vintage Gauge 0 & 1 will be available, I look forward to seeing [...]
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