Clockwork Motor Ambulance No20 (A Wells and Company)

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Past Exhibit

Clockwork Motor Ambulance No20 (A Wells and Company)

Clockwork Motor Ambulance 20 (WellsCat 1931).jpg (i)
BTMM map 020.gif
location:
Arch Two , Area 20
Ambulance Station (display)

A white lithographed tinplate toy Clockwork Motor Ambulance, made by A. Wells and Company, identical to the version shown in their 1931 catalogue, as model No.20 .

The same basic tinplate design was also produced with different lithography, as No.21 Clockwork Royal Mail (GR Royal Mail), and as No.22 Clockwork Delivery Van ("Carter Paterson Express Carriers" / "A help to every home").

Description

The vehicle has "AMBULANCE" printed on its side in large black block capital letters, a large red cross on the slanted roof of the driver's compartment, open cab sides above the cab doors, a forward-leaning driver, and opening rear doors. The cab doors also bear the black St. John's Ambulance symbol.

The underside of the ambulance has a typical Wells clockwork mechanism with thin large-diameter gears and a wound helical wire spring.

References

  • Marguerite Fawdry, British Tin Toys (New Cavendish, 1990), p175 ISBN 0904568865 – includes a reproduction of the 1931 A. Wells and Company catalogue, with an illustration of the ambulance.