P is for Prolific Plastic Passengers and Professional People

I guess most countries have their main go-to for railway figures, the main passion being the locomotives and rolling stock, with the scenery comming a poor second and things like people third in the priority list, for me, and for most of my lifetime that name has been Merit, by J&L Randall, although originally it was simply J Randall, but that was before he got married, and before he had a railway accessory range!

From the sorting session we saw the other day, these are the little 4x5½"self-seal bags which, en masse, support the Driving Test game and the stuff above it in the storage-box (previous post under the Merit Tag), and you can see from a few of the peripheral bits and the loose ones in the middle that this is mid-sort!

 

Over the years there have been several packings, with at least two matchbox types and artwork changes to the early 'scenic' cards, while the non-standard size boxes had their own designs, or extended versions of the matchbox scenes. The packing of interest here is the pinkish-orange card in the centre, which is a 1960/70's (?) US export card with a dollar price clearly visible.

 

These are Jon Attwood's 'master collection' beautifully laid-out, a thing which was always on in the long-term plan, but I can save mine for the A-Z blog entry, whenever I get round to it. We have looked at a few specific sets in the past here, and the final post in this sequence will have links to all the relevant model railway figure posts, but for now a few points of interest;

 

The similarity/identicallness of many of the earlier sets to the output of first BJ Ward's Wardie/Mastermodels (with the input of Kemlows), and then Slater's, has now - partially - been explained by the joint relationship between them and Collis Plastics, but the finer details of the exact nature of what went on may never be fully understood.

 

They clearly employed more than one sculptor, in addition to the early 'Collis' stuff, there are figures which have some of the hallmarks of Stadden (I don't know, and I am only suggesting, not stating, he was involved), while another sculptor seems to produce fuller, smoother figurines.

 

There were periods when the figures were sold without bases, others times when they were glued to small clear-plastic, polystyrene, ovoid discs. I haven't noticed a pattern to the difference, but if there is one (a pattern), it will probably be early sets baseless, later sets based, with the possibility of very late sets (green cards) also losing the bases as a money-saving measure (for the ailing Randall's, not the buyers!)?

Typically, they were issued in various shades of pink plastic (for hands and faces), overpainted, but early rail-staff sets were a black or blue-black, the locomotive crew are commoner in coloured plastic (different shades of 'boiler-suit' blue), and other sets got 'pre-coloured' issues at various times, particularly the military/emergency sets.

 

Note also, top centre; the seated signalman, I don't have it, and Jon thinks it may only have come with very early versions of the signal box? Top left are the one-off's, with a missing caller from the telephone box, the two coalmen (from the coal scales), and the fog-man (from the brazier), who can double-up as a night watchman on your model industrial estate/factory unit!

The late sets are both heavier and Stadden-like, and much harder to find, although they are out there, and past correspondence suggests that the model-rail fans were well aware of them and snapped them up at the time of appearance, so they were 'saved' for posterity!

 

They also give us a third type, with integrally-moulded bases, painted platform-tarmac/flagstone grey! We looked at them with the help of Bernard Taylor ages ago, and again, they will be in the final round-up, but I'm not sure if I've a code for the late seated/sitting passenger set, nor do I recognise the set to the right of them?

 

Correction - before publishing, I notice they are carded to the Peco/Model Scene sets from Gaugemaster, see next image, so contemporaneous with the Cricketing set, i.e. relatively current?

Various packaging types, the Model Scene (PPP-Prichard patent Products-Gaugemaster) cards continued the late Merit design and font graphics with a change of name, which had been green backing-cards for HO and brown for N-gauge. The locomotive card, was the interim design which I remember on pegs when I was younger, the matchboxes already being 'vintage'!

 

A late Merit catalogue from the 1980's, it wasn't until I was studying Jon's images that I realised there are several differnt flag-men, both platform, engine-shed and trackside, and I will have to check all mine, especially the loose sets I've made-up, but also the matchbox sets which are open to tampering-with, to check they are all carrying the correct waver!

Note the 'new' sets on both pages have been given a much higher level of painting than the commercially issued sets ever received (possibly to hide the pre-production nature of the scuplts), while the 'Walking People' (5126, top left) seem to be wax, clay or plasticine mock-ups?

 

Because you can never have everything, and a truly definitive post renders that whole section of your collection rather redundant, I'm pleased to say there is at least one figure missing, the driver of the 'F.C. Lloyd Ltd.' Horse-Drawn Delivery Van (and it's horse, 5132), so a reason to return to Merit in the future there! Perhaps one of the Paul's could find it on Worthpoint?

 

The recent Modelscene cricketers are also missing, but I seem to recall Tom Clague brought our attention to them, a few years ago, and a link was provided then.

Many thanks to Jon for his images and the past input of Bernard and Tom.

Listings, to date, help needed with the 49xx-coded sets;

Listing

HO/OO Railway Accessories

Unnumbered Bulk Boxes (early)

? - Poplar trees, 4 trees

? - Alder trees, 3 trees

? - Fir trees, 8 trees (? - Reg. Design Nos. 881817  .  881818  .  881819)

? - Fences and gates (40 pieces)

? - Telegraph Poles

? - Walls

? - 8 Hedges

≈

Retailer Codes?

K30 - Scammell Scarab and trailer kit (unassembled)

≈

Early ‘Real’ Trees/Scenics (made from bunches of sphagnum moss, heather, lichen &etc…)

4901 - Ash Tree

4902 - Oak Tree

4903

4904

4905

4906

4907

4908

4909

4910

4911

4912

4913

4914

4915 - Two Tall Evergreens

≈

Standard Range

5000 - Imitation Coal

5001
5002 - Ballast bins, 3 pieces
5003
5004 - Lamppost, gas, 8 pieces
5005
5006 - Telephone kiosk and caller, 2 pieces
5007 - Bus stop and shelter, 2 pieces
5008 - Traffic cones, large and small, 20 pieces
5009 - Tyres, 12 pieces
5010 - Railway [shipping] container, 1 piece
5011 - Scammell Trailer & Container (assembled, no cab?)
5012 - Loading-bay, assembly kit
5013
5014
5015 - Scammell lorry, assembly kit, cab and trailer, unassembled)
5016 - 'Age of Steam' Vehicle Kit - Scammell Lorry & Container (with trailer, unassembled)
5017
5018 - Corn stooks, 12 pieces
5019
5020 - Hedges, 8 pieces
5021
5022
5023 - Kissing-gates, 2 pieces
5024 - Stile with two fences, 3 pieces
5025 - Feather-edge [paling] fencing, 20 pieces (box)
5026 - Feather-edge [paling] fencing, 12 pieces (early set)
5026 - Feather-edge [paling] fencing, 10 pieces (late set)
5027 - Post-and-rail fencing, 9 pieces (box)

5027 - Post-and-rail fencing, 9 pieces (carded blister)

5028 - Wattle fencing, 12 pieces
5029 - Coalmen and scales, 3 pieces (early set refers to both figures)
5029 - Coalman and scales, 3 pieces
5030 - Coal office
5031 - Coal Bunker (three bays)
5032
5033 - Plate-layers hut
5034 - Fog-man, hut and brazier, 3 pieces

5035 - Signal box, assembled (with seated figure?)
5035 - Signal box, assembly kit
5036 - Water Tower
5037 - [Line-side notices?]
5038 - Loading-gauge, 1 piece
5039 - Hording, 1 piece (Shell petroleum design, creosote woodwork, early set)
5039 - Hording, 2 pieces (mixed designs, white woodwork, late set)
5040 - Tunnel

5041
5042
5043
5044
5045 - Tunnel portal, single
5046 - Tunnel portal, double
5047
5048 - Poplar trees, 4 trees
5049 - Alder trees, 3 trees
5050 - Fir trees, 6 trees
5051 - Level signs and mileposts, 6 pieces
5052 - Track-signs, 3 pieces
5053 - Wood planks, 72 pieces (6 bundles of 12 wooden tapers)
5054 - Corrugated asbestos, 6 pieces
5055 - Cycles and stand, 5 pieces
5056 - Passengers seated, 5 pieces
5057 - Passengers standing, set A, 5 pieces
5058 - Passengers standing, set B, 5 pieces
5059 - Station staff, 5 pieces
5060 - Milk Churns
5061 - Platform seats, 12 pieces (early set, green)
5061 - Platform seats, 10 pieces (late set, brown)
5062 - Trunks, suitcases and sack barrows, 12 pieces
5063 - Electric trolley, trailer and driver, 4 pieces (two trailers, truck and driver)
5064 - Sacks and barrels, 24 pieces (pirated/licensed? by Marx)
5065 - Concrete pipes, 6 pieces, (early version)
5065 - Sewage pipes, 4 pieces, (late version)
5066 - Sacks of coal, 24 pieces

5067 - Oil-drums, 12 pieces, (either red with Shell stickers, or green with BP stickers)
5068 - Station lamppost, 6 pieces (style matches 5087)
5069 - Small packing cases, 6 pieces (two pirated/licensed? by Marx)
5070 - Large packing cases with lids, 3 pieces (6 pieces including lids)
5071 - Acetylene cylinders (short, brown, 24 pieces)
5072 - Oxygen cylinders (long, black, 24 pieces)
5073
5074
5075 - Tar barrels, (black versions of 5067)
5076 - Drain pipes (land-drains, 24 pieces)
5077 - Track maintenance party, 6 pieces (some poses are the same as 5078)
5078 - Cable laying party, 5 pieces (some poses are the same as 5077)
5079 - Cable Drums, 2 pieces
5080 - Telegraph poles, 6 pieces (pirated/licensed? by Triang in N-Gauge)

5081 - Railway board signs (heavy text)

5081 - Railway board signs (light text)
5081 - Pallets, assorted, 3 types, 18 pieces (Modelscene only, number reuse?)
5082 - Locomotive crew, 3 pieces
5083 - Dustbins, 12 pieces (plus 12 lids)
5084 - Girders, 12 pieces
5085 - Fences and gates, 16 pieces
5086 - Parcels, 6 pieces
5087 - Double lamppost, 4 pieces (style matches 5068)
5088 - Skips, large and small, one each
5089 - Mailbags, 15 pieces (pirated/licensed? by Marx)
5090 - Stone walls and buttresses, 7 pieces (3 walls, 4 buttresses)
5091 - Station name-boards, 3 pieces [Potters Bar, home of J&L Randall]
5092 - Carboys, 8 pieces
5093 - Trespass and other board signs, 6 pieces (some ex-5081)
5094 - Signal and switch box
5095 - Chocolate and weighing machines, 3 pieces
5096 - Ticket collector and box, 1 piece
5097 - Bookstall
5098 - Switch Boxes, 3 pieces
5099 -
5100 - Cows, 4 pieces (early, all standing)

5100 - Cows, 4 pieces (mid-production, 2x each - standing and lying)

5100 - Cows, 4 pieces (late, Modelscene type card, 3x standing, 1x lying)
5101 - Cows, lying down, 4 pieces
5102 - Dogs, 8 pieces
5103 - Dogs, 8 pieces (number change or early catalogue misspelling?)
5104
5105 - Horses and ponies, 4 pieces
5106
5107
5108 - Pigs and trough, 9 pieces
5109
5110 - Sheeps and lambs, 12 pieces (10 sheep, 2 lambs)
5111
5112
5113
5114
5115 - Farm-workers, 5 pieces
5116 - Army personnel, 5 pieces
5117 - Navy personnel, 5 pieces
5118 - RAF personnel, 5 pieces
5119 - Porters, 5 pieces (from/after Wardie moulds)
5119 - Porters, 5 pieces
5120 - Schoolgirls and Mistress, 6 pieces
5121 - Schoolboys and Master, 6 pieces
5122 - Hikers, 5 pieces
5123 - Public service personnel, 5 pieces
5124 - Scouts and trek-cart, 4 pieces
5125 - Commuters with newspapers, 5 pieces (plus printed sheet)
5126 - Walking people, 5 pieces
5127 - People on stairs, 5 pieces
5128 - Ticket collector and queue, 5 pieces
5129
5130
5131
5132 - Horse drawn delivery van, assembly kit
5133 - 1927 Maudsley ML3 bus single-deck Buckingham body
5134
5135 - Thornycroft PB 4-ton lorry kit, 'Hall & Sons' (1926?)
5136 - Thornycroft PB 4-ton lorry kit, GWR livery, Cocolate & Cream (1926?)
5137 - 1927 Maudsley ML3 bus with GWR livery, Cocolate & Cream
5138
5139
5140
5141 - [Age of Steam, set A] (not known if it existed)
5142 - [Age of Steam, set B] (not known if it existed)
5143 - [Age of Steam, set C] (not known if it existed)
5144 - [Age of Steam, set D] (not known if it existed)
5145 - Age of Steam, set E
5146
5147
5148
5149
N-gauge range
5150 - Station staff, 5 pieces
5151 - Passengers (early sets)
5151 - Passengers, set A, 5 pieces (late sets)
5152 - Passengers, set B, 5 pieces
5153 - Passengers, male, set C, 5 pieces
5154 - Passengers, female, set D, 5 pieces
5155 - Passengers, seated, set E, 7 pieces
5156 - Unpainted figures set ‘A’ (20), (20 pieces)
5157 - Unpainted figures set ‘B’ (20), (20 pieces)
5158 - Fir trees, 3 trees
5159
5160
5161 - Tunnel portal, single
5162 - Tunnel portal, double
5163
5164 - Fences, 24 pieces (copied from Faller?)
5165 - Cable drums, 2 pieces
5166 - Cable laying party, 4 pieces
5167 - Track maintenance party, 5 pieces
5168
5169
5170 - Locomotive crew, 3 pieces
5171 - Porters and luggage, 8 pieces
5172 - Porter, trolley, barrels and sacks, 14 pieces
5173 - Porter, trolley, drums and crates, (early set - 13 pieces)
5173 - Porter, trolley, drums and crates, 8 pieces (later sets)
5174
5175
5176 - Farmer and pigs (early set - 9 pieces)
5176 - Farmer and pigs, 8 pieces (late set)
5177 - Shepard and Sheep, 11 pieces
5178 - Horses, 4 pieces (Merit sets)
5178 - Horses (Model scene sets - 6 pieces)
5179 - Cows, 4 pieces
5180
5181
5182 - Telegraph poles, 8 pieces (copied from Tyco?)
5183
5184 - Cars, 3 pieces