Leeds Model Company
O gauge model railway manufacturer with quality equal to Bassett Lowke and Hornby.
The Leeds Model Company built model railway equipment, specializing in O gauge wooden coaches and wagons decorated with lithographed sides. They also produced a wide variety of model locomotives, along with track and accessories. In terms of quality, their products matched those of other major manufacturers of the era, such as Bassett Lowke and Hornby Trains, which were considered the top model train makers in the UK during the 1920s and 1930s. Shortly before World War II, the company switched to making its coaches and wagons from bakelite.
The company was founded in 1912 by Rex Stedman. He left in 1928 to start R.F. Stedman & Co., later buying back the Leeds Model Company and operating it under his own name. Stedman departed for good in 1931, and the business returned to the Leeds Model Company name. In 1953, it was renamed Ellemsee Accessories, and it continued in operation until 1966. The Leeds Stedman Trust was established in 1983 to preserve the archives of both the Leeds Model Company and R.F. Stedman & Company. Today, the Trust supplies spare parts, repairs, and technical advice to enthusiasts, and works to maintain interest in and appreciation for the company’s products.
- Founded
- 1912
- Founder
- Rex Stedman
- Key products
- O gauge wooden coaches and wagons with lithograph sides, model locomotives, track, railway accessories
- Material change
- Bakelite coaches and wagons introduced just before World War II
- Successor name
- Ellemsee Accessories (from 1953)
- Final year
- 1966
Lore & Background
The Leeds Model Company (LMC) was founded in 1912 by Rex Stedman. Stedman left the company in 1928 to found R.F. Stedman & Co., but later purchased LMC and continued trading under the R.F. Stedman name. He finally left in 1931, at which point the name reverted to LMC. In 1953, LMC became Ellemsee Accessories and the company survived until 1966. The Leeds Stedman Trust was established in 1983 to keep the archives of both the Leeds Model Company and R. F. Stedman & Company. Today the Trust provides a service of spares, repairs and technical advice to LMC enthusiasts and continues to promote interest in and appreciation of the company's products.
Reader's Guide
The Leeds Model Company holds a notable place in the history of British model railways. Its O gauge wooden coaches and wagons with lithograph sides, along with its extensive range of model locomotives and accessories, placed it on a level of quality comparable to the leading firms of the era, Bassett Lowke and Hornby Trains. The company's shift to bakelite for coaches and wagons just before World War II marked a significant material innovation. The company's history is intertwined with its founder Rex Stedman, who left and returned before departing permanently in 1931. The eventual transition to Ellemsee Accessories in 1953 and the company's closure in 1966 did not end its legacy. The Leeds Stedman Trust, established in 1983, preserves the company archives and actively supports enthusiasts through spares, repairs, and technical advice, ensuring that the products of the Leeds Model Company continue to be appreciated and maintained.
Did You Know?
- Just before World War II, the company began manufacturing its coaches and wagons out of bakelite.
- In 1953, the company became Ellemsee Accessories and survived until 1966.
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