The Mammoth Book of Working Models, CK Shaw (Odhams 1938)
A copy of "The Mammoth Book of Working Models", by C.K. Shaw, published by Odhams Press circa 1938. This copy was kindly lent to us to look at by Cerith Donne of Swansea, and includes the separate instructions booklet, and also the original card sleeve that was used to post the book out to its buyer, which held the book and the small additional accessories that came with it.
The book measures 267mm × 384mm × 14, and is made of colour-printed card, with pre-cut shapes to push out and fold and tab and glue together to make the models.
Dating
The book's title page mentions a provisional patent 34438/38, and we're guessing that one of the "38"'s stands for 1938. This would chime nicely with the launch of the Coronation Scot train and Coronation Class locomotives (one of the models in the book) in 1937. Online sources list the book's date as being 1938 or circa 1938.
Models
MOTOR-DRIVEN MODELS
The illustrations in the border show the vavious models that are provided in the book. There are twelve beautiful scale models altogether, and all are cut and creased ready for assembling with ordinary care and skill.
CONTENTS
- 1. UNIVERSAL POWER HOUSE. – This ingenious model provides abundant driving force i any position – either vertically or horizontally. A strong elastic band is the source of the motive power, whch can be stored up or expended at will by operating simple controls. pages 2-6
MODELS DRIVEN BY UNIVERSAL POWER HOUSE
- 2. CRANE ... pages 7-8
- 3. CHAIROPLANES ... 9-11
- 4. MONOPLANE ... 12
- 5. BIPLANE ... 13
- 6. SEAPLANE ... 14
- 7. SPINNING WHEEL ... 15-16
- 8. VERTICAL STEAM ENGINE ... 17-18
SELF-DRIVING MODELS
- 9. THE TOWER BRIDGE ... pages 19-21
- 10. THE CAR OF THE FUTURE ... 22-23
- 11. THE QUEEN ELIZABETH ... 24
- 12. THE CORONATION SCOT ... 25-26
- Stiffeners, etc., in THICK CARDBOARD (all models) ... 27
- Pulleys, etc., in THICK CARDBOARD (all models) ... 28
All necessary accessories, such as bearings, spindles, bushes, glue, etc. are provided in a separate container, including two driving bands for the universal power house.
— , -, , The Mammoth Book of Working Models, , ~1938
Other books
Shaw and Odhams later produced The Coronation Cut-Out Model Book in 1953, with models of Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, and the Coronation Precession.
