Malins (Engineers)

of 2 St Mary's Row, Birmingham, 4. Telephone: Birmingham, Colmore 4133. (1947)

• 1936 Geoffrey Malins agreed to make engines for Hobbies, after the partnership Hobbies had with Geoffrey Bowman Jenkins ended. Initially only Hobbies engines were made and 576 engines are produced that year.

• 1937 Malins starts to make Mamod engines alongside the Hobbies variants at his Price Street workshop.

• 1938 Geoffrey Malins moved to his new premises at St Marys Row, Birmingham. Joined by his son 'Bud' and with 30, mainly part-time, workers, the company flourished.

• 1939 Malins (Engineers) Ltd was incorporated as a private company. The first 4-page Mamod brochure appeared. Mamods rarest production engine appeared late into the year - the twin-cylinder Minor 2.

• By 1940 production had ceased for the duration of the war. Malins association with Hobbies came to an end.

• 1946 After the end of the war, the company slowly returned to production, which was limited. Malin's son, Eric, joined the business, in charge of production.

• 1947 Manufacturers of "Mamod" Educational Metal Mechanical Toys, Model Stationary Steam Engines and Working Models by large quantity Production. For Export and Home Trade. (Olympia, 2nd Floor, Stand No. J.2251)

• 1947 Geoffrey Malins son, Phil, joined the family business. Production slowly increased, despite post-war combination of shortages of materials and unreliable equipment.

• 1948 The business was doing well and improvements were introduced.

• By 1949 the company had moved to larger premises at Camden Street, Malins introduced their first 'mobile' - the Meteor boats, although later these would prove to be the only real commercial failure the company ever had.

• 1950 The Meteor boats were not selling well, and the price was rather expensive at £4 5s 0d, (£4.25). In an attempt to rescue something from the project they introduced the Conqueror powered by a FROG 'Revmaster' electric motor.

• 1951 "Mamod" continued to sell small quantities of the Meteor. They consolidated the move to Camden Street. They also made solid brass ball-catches for doors, to keep up productiion during quiet periods - this was the only non-toy item ever made by the company.

• By 1952 the production of the Meteor had come to and end after 1,500 units. So did Bud Malins' association with the company, following disagreements with his father.

• 1953 The expensive hot-stamped brass flywheels were dropped in favour of mazak, which was also being used for the tools. It was the last year flatbases were used on the bigger engines.

• 1954 Eric Malins walked out on the firm and all the engines had the new pressed steel, raised bases. The company had 40 full-time employees.

• 1955 Geoffrey Malins looked for a buyer for the now profitable company - but with no success. He approached his son Eric and an agreement was reached whereby Geoffrey became Chairman and Eric took overall control of Malins Engineers.

• 1956 In the spring, Eric Malins rejoined the company as Managing Director, and began planning the first new Malins engine in nine years.

• During 1957 and 1958, several new models appeared.

• By 1960, the workforce had reached about 50 and the company could produce up to 300 engines a day plus accessories. Space was running out at the Camden Street works and larger premises were needed for expansion.

• 1962 The company moved into the old pipe works at Brierly Hill, known as the Thorns Works.

• 1964 Two 'Mamod' model steam engines (one stationery and one mobile), made by Malins (Engineers) Ltd.

• 1968 New floorspace was ready at the Thorns Works for yet more investment in new machinery. With new floorspace being utilised for die-casting the costs of production were slashed. Steve Malins joined the family business, straight from school.

• 1969/70 Eric Malins accepted awards from the National Association of Toy Retailers.

• 1973 Production reached almos 116,000 units and the Thorns works ran smoothly.

• By 1975 development at the Thorns works had been fully realised, with the opening of dedicated offices. In June of that year Geoffrey Malins, founder and Chairman, died at the age of 83. Production suffered later in the year, as retailers cancelled orders over concerns about liquid fuel after an 'accident' in the US drew attention to the dangers of methylated spirit. This resulted in redundancy for some staff. Liquid fuel was later outlawed.

• From 1977, Malins models werere fuelled by solid fuel tablets, made on the premises at the Thorns works.

• By 1978, to accomodate European regulations, all models except one, had sight glasses, and the naked flame fully enclosed.

• 1980 Was the last year of Malins control.

See Also

• [2] A short History of the Mamod Company