WEEDEN MOBILE TOY
STEAM ENGINES
Weeden Manufacturing made four toy steam mobile engines, two tractors and two steam rollers. Three train locomotives were also manufactured, the Dart, the No.1 Stream Locomotive and the No.2 Steam Locomotive. Several steamboats were also manufactured. |
Acclaimed as perhaps one of the finest and most desirable toys ever produced, the Weeden Live Steam Fire Engine was introduced in 1894 and produced into 1919. It is 17" long, 6 1/2" wide at rear wheels and stands 11 1/8" high. A little history on the engine in the photo from Hal Burchell: The fire engine was found under a house during a renovation, was missing a rear wheel, a stack, the surge globe for the pump, and the hoses. The flywheel had to be re-machined; there were other parts missing or badly damaged. A friend of mine fabricated a new stack, used the existing wheel as a pattern and cast a new bronze rear wheel, and trued the flywheel. His wife did the paint job.
The Weeden No. 28 Locomobile was introduced in 1894 and produced into 1901, it was 8 1/2" long X 4" wide. Replicas are fairly common for this model.
The Weeden No. 643 tractor was introduced in 1924 and produced into 1937, 8 1/2" long X 4" wide and stands 11 1/2" high. Early models had a spoked flywheel, no whistle and a short firebox with a 2 wick burner. The Weeden No. 644 was introduced in 1924 and produced into 1935, 11 1/12" long X 5" wide and 8 1/2" high. The Weeden No. 645 was introduced in 1926 and produced into 1935, 6 1/2" long X 3 3/4" wide and stands 7 1/4" high. As a point of interest a smoke stack from a No.238 is the same size. Thanks continentalhobby.com The tank is a snug fit that is pushed up into the firebox and is held there by friction.
The Weeden No. 646 is an identical engine to the No.645 other than for the front end, the No. 646 having a roller rather than wheels. Introduced in 1926 and produced into 1935, 7" long X 3 3/4" wide and stands 7 1/4" high. Video of No. 646 in action by NickSteam8 Many consider the Weeden Dart to be the most successful early American toy train, tens of thousands of this popular model were sold. There are actually two types of Dart locomotives, early and late. The early models only had one cylinder, a steel boiler and a three wick burner, the late model has a four wick burner, brass boiler and nickle plated steam cylinder and fill cap/safety valve whereas the early models had painted parts. A third version likely from National Playthings has also shown up as illustrated in the bottom photos.
This appears to be a later offering possibly from National Playthings in the 1940's.
The Weeden Dart was introduced in 1888 and in production by Weeden until 1918, the locomotive is 8" long, 3" wide and it stands 4 1/2" high. The set is made up of the locomotive, tender and passenger coach that ran on a 3 1/2 foot diameter 2 3/16" gauge track with metal rails and wooden sleepers. National Playthings possibly reintroduced it in the 1940's from a combination of left over and newly made parts. Video of Weeden Dart on Track from Hangshot The Weeden No.1 Steam Locomotive was introduced in 1931 and produced into 1933, 12" long X 2 1/2" wide and 4" high. This is an 0-gauge loco that runs on standard track designed to pull cars made by other manufacturers. A similar electrically heated No.2 was designed for The Steam - Electric Company, 400 watts of power was required to heat the water, which was impractical so the project never really got off the ground.. The Weeden No.3 Locomotive is a larger version of the Dart, 12" long, 3 1/4" wide and 4 1/2" high, introduced around 1903 and produced for a couple years. The complete train had a tender and two passenger coaches with a 5' diameter track. There are a few replicas of this engine on the market that were produced quite recently, late 1990's. The Weeden Side Wheeled Steamboat is 12" long, 3 1/2" wide and 5" high, introduced in 1889 and produced until 1894, named the "Waterwitch". The engine cylinder, rocking beam, crank and paddle wheels are mounted on top of the boiler which is hinged to lift up to light the burner. This model is very rare, in 2006 James D. Julia Auctioneers sold one of these for over $6000.
The Weeden Standard Porter is 12" long, 4" wide, introduced in 1889 and produced until 1899, this is the smallest of the line. The photo is missing the smokestack which went over the filler plug. WEEDEN Steamboat No.1 & No.2 Porter
Thanks Pat G.
Thanks Pat G. May /17-
Good condition - 31 bids - 512.00 USD -
Weeden Steamboat No 1. was introduced in 1918 and produced into 1933. This is the smaller of two similar models, the larger one, with a 17" hull is the No.2 Standard. The model shown has been refurbished. Length of hull is 14
1/2" WEEDEN Standard Steamboat No.2
Thanks Susan The Weeden Torpedo Steamboat No. 3 has a 20" long hull, introduced around 1894 and produced until 1903. This boat was named the "Gloucester" WEEDEN Freighter Steamboat No.3
The Weeden Freighter Steamboat No. 3 has a 19" long hull, introduced around 1918 and produced until 1933. This boat was intended to interest boys in the Merchant Marines. It was painted battleship grey with black and bronze trim.
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