F. Brian Jewell

As with so many in this hobby, it was a natural progression for Brian from collecting Dinky Toys and Tootsietoys to the white metal scene. Brian’s widow Pat recalls that they moved to Tunbridge Wells in 1964, and at the time Brian had been fascinated by how model cars that had once been children’s toys had now become collectors’ items. So much so that this became the main theme of his book, published in 1963, entitled Model Car Collecting, now collectible in its own right.

Brian had always had a keen interest in motor racing, and it was therefore not surprising that he spotted that there was no commercially available model of the Ferrari 250GTO. Despite being an amateur, he produced his own drawings and designed the model components himself. He then approached Denzil Skinner, who made both the master and castings for him, and his range Marc Europa was born. The Ferrari was launched in 1964 and was featured on the front cover of his book. By this time he had founded the Model Car Enthusiasts Club, and was receiving correspondence from as far away as Japan. It is understood that Brian had written to potential stockists offering a minimum order quantity of 100 models, and intimated that he hoped to progress to diecasting methods.

Subject ID: 81629

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As with so many in this hobby, it was a natural progression for Brian from collecting Dinky Toys and Tootsietoys to the white metal scene. Brian’s widow Pat recalls that they moved to Tunbridge Wells in 1964, and at the time Brian had been fascinated by how model cars that had once been children’s toys had now become collectors’ items. So much so that this became the main theme of his book, published in 1963, entitled Model Car Collecting, now collectible in its own right.

Brian had always had a keen interest in motor racing, and it was therefore not surprising that he spotted that there was no commercially available model of the Ferrari 250GTO. Despite being an amateur, he produced his own drawings and designed the model components himself. He then approached Denzil Skinner, who made both the master and castings for him, and his range Marc Europa was born. The Ferrari was launched in 1964 and was featured on the front cover of his book. By this time he had founded the Model Car Enthusiasts Club, and was receiving correspondence from as far away as Japan. It is understood that Brian had written to potential stockists offering a minimum order quantity of 100 models, and intimated that he hoped to progress to diecasting methods.

The next model, a Porsche 904 GTS coupe, came out in 1965 when a London jeweller undertook to make the pattern. Brian, perhaps not too wisely, decided to produce the castings himself. Both Ferrari and Porsche were stated as being available in fully finished form, but the 904 was issued in kit form. It is believed that at this stage Brian and Denzil Skinner parted company, with Skinner retaining the GTO moulds and master. The 904 castings are said to be of superior quality by those who have seen examples. The die cast models never appeared, and whilst other models were intended, it is believed production ended with these two. It is doubtful that more than 100 Ferraris were made, and possibly even fewer of the Porsche. These two models can therefore be awarded the 1^st in 1:43 scale for a handbuilt and a kit. It has been suggested that a 3^rd model may have been made, a 1:32 scale 1964 Ford GT40 Mk I of which it is believed less than 10 were produced, and that it may have been based on a vacform slot racing body. This could not be substantiated by Brian’s widow Pat. The models are illustrated in an article in the Vol 12 No. 1, October 1982 issue of the Modellers’ World magazine, and these were from the collection of Cecil Gibson, which was eventually bought by Mike and Sue Richardson. As an already prolific writer, he was able to obtain publicity from the Cars & Car Conversions magazine.

Mysteriously, Brian also listed the production range of a Belgian manufacturer called Mabri, the existence of which has never been confirmed. This range was to cover cars of earlier periods, and 4 were listed in Brian’s book as Duesenberg, Vauxhall TT, Sunbeam and Aston Martin Ulster, but none were produced. It is possible that Brian may have intended to produce this range, but when the name is compared with Brian’s first range and his name - MArc BRIan – interesting conclusions might be reached! Pat confirms two helpful points to this puzzle, firstly that Brian had some Belgian connections earlier in his career. Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, that Brian enjoyed jokes, calling them his “Ho hos”

The answer to this intriguing puzzle is perhaps best consigned to history.

Continuing to write about and exhibit his own collection of model cars at the Racing Car Show, and other venues such as the Penshurst Place show, Brian had made a speciality of “chopping”, that is adapting existing models to make variations on the theme with a special interest. In the domain of motor racing, with the increasing numbers and diversity of standard production models seen, rendered chopping unnecessary. From the late 1980s until shortly before he died Brian was closely associated with Lledo and Solido, designing liveries for their models with meticulously researched detail comprising themed advertising of all kinds as well as a very wide range of public service vehicles, military, fire fighting, ambulance, railway etc. For Lledo he collaborated with Paul Lumsden throughout the 1990s, whilst Solido’s Tony Smith liaised with him in the production of innumerable model sets of which the series Cars of the Commanders (Staff cars of WWII Generals) realised a long cherished ambition.

As a writer, Brian had a very broad range of interests. He is still the standard work on the history of the sewing machine - Veteran Sewing Machines, with its sequel Antique Sewing Machines – and there were books on Motor Badges and Figureheads, Scales and Balances, Smoothing Irons and others, all published by Midas Books, who also brought out works of social history, another of Brian’s enthusiasms represented by his Fairs and Revels, and Sports and Games. Collecting for Tomorrow is a useful guide for collectors of the orthodox as well as the distinctly off-beat. Allard to Zodiac appeared in 1985, an encyclopaedia cars of the 1960s. Later titles reflected Brian’s experiences in the Second World War, such as Overlord, a handbook of the Normandy Landings, and Over the Rhine, recalling his involvement in the Rhine crossing as a very young lance-corporal. Journalism continued with regular articles for Treasure Hunting and Solider magazines, Antiques Weekly and Art and Antiques.

Brian found broadcasting particularly rewarding, especially the weekly programme with Radio Sussex, a “phone-in” with the BBC’s Dave Arscott. Brian answered listeners’ questions on a variety of topics, including their mystery finds, a subject he treated with humour, intuition, great experience and enormous enthusiasm.

The annual collectors’ Meet also organised by the BBC with Dave enabled him to meet the exhibitors and discuss their interests at their Brighton venue.

Having moved in 1987 to Harrogate in Yorkshire, Brian soon made himself at home in a new environment where he made many new friends. A projected publication entitled “What Scale?” which he felt would prove useful to collectors was completed but never published at the time of Brian’s death in April 2006.

 

Subject ID: 81629

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