Government anti-terror ban forces closure of UK mannequin steam prepare agency

A historic British firm which produced model steam trains for 87 years has been forced to close its doors after getting hamstrung by red tape.

Mamod this month closed down production in its factory due to dwindling sales and spiralling overheads, in an era of gaming consoles and social media.

The firm was also hobbled by a government ban on the ‘dangerous’ hexamine fuel tablets that had long been used in the models to heat water and set the intricate engines chuntering.

Founded in 1937, Mamod’s steam trains quickly became a favourite of children across the country, boasting static generators which powered models with wire loops and scaled-down traction engines.

A fire sale of remaining stock was held at the factory in Smethwick, West Midlands earlier this month as long-time fans of the miniature trains witnessed the final models off the production line.

Historic British firm Mamod, which produced model steam trains for 87 years, has been forced to close its doors after getting hamstrung by red tape

Mamod this month closed down production in its factory due to dwindling sales and spiralling overheads, in an era of gaming consoles and social media (pictured: Advert for Mamod steam car)

Founded in 1937, Mamod’s steam trains quickly became a favourite of children across the country, boasting static generators which powered models with wire loops and scaled-down traction engines

The new scarcity of stock has ironically led to a boom in the value of Mamod models, with classic examples said to be fetching up to ten times their original values at auction.

Mamod owner Adrian Lockrey, 52, of Tamworth, Staffs, said he had ‘tried everything’ to keep the firm running.

He said he begged counter-terrorism officials not to impose the blanket ban on hexamine but the prohibition came into force in February.

He told the Mail: ‘It is red tape. Basically, we were doing £50,000 a month, every month, and then come February our sales dropped 50 per cent basically overnight.

‘We ended up getting through to counter-terrorism in London and the woman just said, ‘well, you can’t sell it’. 

‘I said it was like me selling a torch without batteries.

‘It was a really big kick. Apparently it’s been used to make bombs.

‘We’ve been running on those hexamine tablets since 1975, before that it was methylated spirits – but then in the 70s someone burnt themselves on that so we went to this fuel tablet.’

He said the company spent £20,000 trying to develop a liquid fuel alternative, but once that had been finalised, the rent on their factory premises was raised to the point of unaffordability.

The firm was also hobbled by a government ban on the ‘dangerous’ hexamine fuel tablets that had long been used in the models to heat water and set the intricate engines chuntering (pictured: Advert for Mamod steam engine)

Long-time fans of the miniature trains witnessed the final models off the production line earlier this month (pictured: Advert for Mamod steam engine)

‘It is very disappointing,’ he added. ‘It’s heartbreaking. We were England’s oldest and largest steam toy manufacturer.’

Mamod was founded in Birmingham by Geoffrey Malins as Malins Models.

Early traction engines cost 99 shillings and six pence – just under a fiver – but latest similar models were retailed for £300.

The engines are powered by steam-driven pistons, set into motion when water is heated by a small fire in a burner tray placed under the boiler.

In October 2023, the company came under threat when hexamine was banned after officials concluded it could be used to make explosives. 

Mamod had been using hexamine fuel tablets for decades in its engines.

Tightened rules meant hexamine could still be bought, but only under certain circumstances with customers forced to pay for a licence and hand over personal details.

Early traction engines cost 99 shillings and six pence – just under a fiver – but latest similar models were retailed for £300

Earlier this year, Mamod estimated that the overhaul of the business required by the new laws would cost in the region of £50,000.

Mamod’s Tom Lockrey told The Telegraph in March that the company was reluctant to sell the engines without the fuel as it’s ‘like buying a torch and having no batteries for it’, and bosses felt they would be doing their customers a disservice.

He said at the time: ‘This is currently stopping £8,500 in orders from going out, as over 75 per cent of our products need to run on this hexamine-based fuel.’