Anbrico

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Anbrico is one of the earliest producers of model buses we have found, and the following history is based on the ‘Anbrico Scale Models: Hand Built History’ website, with acknowledgements.

The name Anbrico first appeared in 1932 when it was used in connection with hand built scale models, in particular model railway items in ‘0’ gauge for the home market. As the years went by the firm became known as Anbrico Scale Models and all types of models were made for sale in countries all over the world. The firm was also producing for other firms in the model trade. Some larger models were built from 1952 in 1:12 scale for bus and coach operators for use in booking offices around the UK, and some models appeared on the manufacturers stand at the Commercial Motor Show at Earls Court in the early 1950s.

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Anbrico is one of the earliest producers of model buses we have found, and the following history is based on the ‘Anbrico Scale Models: Hand Built History’ website, with acknowledgements.

The name Anbrico first appeared in 1932 when it was used in connection with hand built scale models, in particular model railway items in ‘0’ gauge for the home market. As the years went by the firm became known as Anbrico Scale Models and all types of models were made for sale in countries all over the world. The firm was also producing for other firms in the model trade. Some larger models were built from 1952 in 1:12 scale for bus and coach operators for use in booking offices around the UK, and some models appeared on the manufacturers stand at the Commercial Motor Show at Earls Court in the early 1950s.

Anbrico Scale Models produced the first ‘00’ models of the new British Railways Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs) about to be supplied to the Leeds/Bradford area in the early 1950s. A model shop in Leeds bought the first batch of 6 twin units just weeks before the real prototypes appeared in service. As a result of this order and adverts at that time more orders came during the following weeks from model shops in Manchester and London. Over the next few years the range increased until all types of DMUs and rail buses were produced in ‘00’ scale.

In the early 1960s the introduction of a ‘00’ range of coaches from the big four operators (LMS, GWR, LNER and SR) required part time staffto be employed to assemble parts. From the start the range was inclusive of finer detailed items such as screw couplings, sprung buffers and braided vacuum pipes and of course the lining found on these earlier carriages. Around this time a well-known model firm dealing in the larger scales asked if Anbrico could supply them with a range of ‘0’ gauge pullman coaches. This work was undertaken and a range of pullmans was produced for them over several years. In later years they were produced only to special order as required for individual customers.

Over the years the ranges became very popular and production methods were changed and improvements made to give a more detailed appearance from experience gained from the range of ‘00’ coaches being produced. Some twin car units were mounted on a scale length of track on a wooden plinth, intended to be given to potential customers throughout the world as ‘Christmas presents’ that year from British United Traction. In later years after being ‘handed on’ these turned up from various places to be motorised by Anbrico for use by the new owners for on their model railways. 

As a result of numerous requests from model railway enthusiasts, a range of ‘00’ diesel locomotives was being built up, and in due course these included the option of the inclusion of extra detail as required by individual customers.

In the early 1960s a small range of ready to run trams was produced in ‘00’ which came as a result of a Trade order. This became popular with both customers in U.K. and abroad as they were available on either the ‘00’ or ‘TT’ gauge chassis, and absorbed a considerable amount of their small skilled staff’s time.

In early 1965 an order was received from British Railways Scottish Region for a ‘00’ model of the three car Glasgow suburban electric ‘Blue Train’ to be mounted on a length of scale track on a wooden plinth with posts and overhead wires. The completed model was presented to the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh on a visit to see the line in Scotland in July 1965.  As a result of this initial work the Glasgow ‘Blue Train’ was later added to the lists.

By 1968 the first in a range of ‘00’ cast metal bus kits was introduced which included popular British double and single deck buses and coaches. It was decided some time later to transfer the range of brass trams over to cast white metal kits.   This range covered the lack of types available for use with model railways, but added interest was found from enthusiasts who just enjoyed making models of buses and trams. One enthusiast group that was just starting saw the advert and made contact to ascertain if the types they were interested in could be produced for them.

Kit production continued until July 1987, during which time some 80 cast metal kits were available including one ‘N’ gauge diesel locomotive with the ‘00’ kits covering buses, trolleybuses, trams, lorries and one diesel locomotive.

The hand built model section was closed some time later after the completion of some outstanding orders for models and patterns for firms in the model trade. The Pudsey premises containing the model side of the business and showroom were sold and converted into a 4 bedroomed house. All items connected with the scale model business were sold off to other firms and private collectors when the old premises were emptied for the conversion. All the models from the showcases in the Pudsey showroom became part of the private collection of one of the business partners, to be retained to illustrate the history of the firm since the original models were made in 1932. Most of the range of bus kits pioneered by Anbrico have since been introduced in complete form, in various liveries, by several diecast firms, and can be seen in model shops throughout the UK and in various other countries.

Since production ceased there has been a sharp rise in the second hand sale prices of all the hand built models. eBay prices in particular show this when unopened kits appear for sale, with the fully built models as a rule fetching a lower resale amount. However the range of ‘ready to run ‘00’ railway coaches and DMUs very rarely come up for sale. These are often sought through collector’s adverts in most of the popular model magazines.

Anbrico Video Services was established in the late 1970s, in independent premises, to cater for the customer looking for prototype information on some of the lesser known private railways in Europe and, in particular, Switzerland. Over the years a range of over 130 hour long video films was produced from the information collected in Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Holland, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Switzerland and the U.K. covering railways, light rail, trams and trolleybuses.

These films were used by transport bodies when considering the use of light rail schemes, but the main users were of course enthusiasts from all over the world, with many tapes going out to America and Canada.  Over the years Anbrico has done work for several of the major construction and demolition firms in the UK either ‘in house’ or filming out on location with one of these firms still using the services after more than 18 years. 

As well as orders received, direct work has been undertaken with several groups of photographic shops throughout the UK, offering transfer from ciné, slides and prints to video. No job was considered too small, as often copies of a subject were received that had a running time of only 2 minutes, received from solicitors, police or law courts in the Leeds area seeking a same day turn round. 

Other subjects have included weddings either in the UK or abroad. Several video productions were undertaken either to advertise a product on television such as bathrooms or showers. Copies illustrating holiday resorts and apartments were also undertaken for holiday companies.

Subject ID: 9160

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Subject ID: 9160