Bassett Lowke Ltd
Other Business Names:
- Bassett Lowke, Wenman J
- Basset Lowke & Co
- Narrow Gauge Railways Ltd
- Beatties
- Corgi
- Beatties
Locations city-town / local authority / county1974 / region-state / country:
- Northampton, Northamptonshire, Northamptonshire, East Midlands, England
Sectors:
-
Distribution - retailing
Mail order & catalogue retailing
-
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical models production
-
Distribution - retailing
Toys & games retailing
-
Luxury / consumer goods production
Toys, games, hobby, decoration, etc, products manufacture
Notes:
Established c1899 by Wenman J Bassett-Lowke, 1877-1953, as Bassett Lowke & Co to make parts for model steam engines and to sell them by mail order, issuing first catalogue in 1900-01. Started to make models of locomotives, other railway equipment, ships, buildings, etc, sometime contracting out production, especially of components, to others, eg E W Twining. Advertised heavily. Came to operate commercial miniature railways including via Narrow Gauge Railways Ltd. Also retailed, opening first store in High Holborn, London, in 1908 and which closed 1964 when sold to Beatties. Business incorporated 1910. In decline after 1950 and sold by Bassett Lowke family in 1966. Brand name passed through several hands until acquired by Corgi in 1996 [2023]
Publications:
- Bassett Lowke Story by Fuller, Roland
- C R Mackintosh. The Chelsea years by Unknown
- 'Fifteen inch gauge steam locomotives of Bassett Lowke' in N Cossons et al (eds), Perspectives on Railway History and Interpretation. Essays to celebrate the work of Dr John Coiey at the National Railway Museum, York by Mosley, David
- Fifty Years of Model Making. The story of Bassett Lowke Ltd from the turn of the century by Holland, George F
- W J Bassett Lowke. A model world by Hodgkinson, Judith
- W J Bassett Lowke and the Patronage of Modern Design in England, 1900-1939 by Peach, Andrea
- Wenman Joseph Bassett-Lowke. A memoir of his life and achievements by Bassett-Lowke, Janet
Groups:
Other Business Names:
- Bassett Lowke, Wenman J
- Basset Lowke & Co
- Narrow Gauge Railways Ltd
- Beatties
- Corgi
- Beatties
Locations city-town / local authority / county1974 / region-state / country:
- Northampton, Northamptonshire, Northamptonshire, East Midlands, England
Sectors:
- Distribution - retailing Mail order & catalogue retailing
- Mechanical engineering Mechanical models production
- Distribution - retailing Toys & games retailing
- Luxury / consumer goods production Toys, games, hobby, decoration, etc, products manufacture
Notes:
Established c1899 by Wenman J Bassett-Lowke, 1877-1953, as Bassett Lowke & Co to make parts for model steam engines and to sell them by mail order, issuing first catalogue in 1900-01. Started to make models of locomotives, other railway equipment, ships, buildings, etc, sometime contracting out production, especially of components, to others, eg E W Twining. Advertised heavily. Came to operate commercial miniature railways including via Narrow Gauge Railways Ltd. Also retailed, opening first store in High Holborn, London, in 1908 and which closed 1964 when sold to Beatties. Business incorporated 1910. In decline after 1950 and sold by Bassett Lowke family in 1966. Brand name passed through several hands until acquired by Corgi in 1996 [2023]Publications:
- Bassett Lowke Story by Fuller, Roland
- C R Mackintosh. The Chelsea years by Unknown
- 'Fifteen inch gauge steam locomotives of Bassett Lowke' in N Cossons et al (eds), Perspectives on Railway History and Interpretation. Essays to celebrate the work of Dr John Coiey at the National Railway Museum, York by Mosley, David
- Fifty Years of Model Making. The story of Bassett Lowke Ltd from the turn of the century by Holland, George F
- W J Bassett Lowke. A model world by Hodgkinson, Judith
- W J Bassett Lowke and the Patronage of Modern Design in England, 1900-1939 by Peach, Andrea
- Wenman Joseph Bassett-Lowke. A memoir of his life and achievements by Bassett-Lowke, Janet