Bernie & Graham du Cros

Originally in the antiques business with a shop in Maidenhead, known as Gems and Cobwebs, Bernie and Graham found they were acquiring old toys, including Dinky Toys and other makes, and in 1982 turned the business over to old models and toys.

After a period in Hungerford, they moved to Cornwall in 1988 and took over a garage for a while, selling light commercials and petrol, but also continuing the model business. Model Garage was a play on the word model meaning scale model or excellent service. Having been in the trade since the late 1970s they had been asked for many model vehicles which at that time had not been made.

Subject ID: 81201

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Originally in the antiques business with a shop in Maidenhead, known as Gems and Cobwebs, Bernie and Graham found they were acquiring old toys, including Dinky Toys and other makes, and in 1982 turned the business over to old models and toys.

After a period in Hungerford, they moved to Cornwall in 1988 and took over a garage for a while, selling light commercials and petrol, but also continuing the model business. Model Garage was a play on the word model meaning scale model or excellent service. Having been in the trade since the late 1970s they had been asked for many model vehicles which at that time had not been made.

Meanwhile, Ken White, a keen collector of diecast military models, had been working in Cyprus between 1986 and 1989, and on his return to London, working in the Egham area, he visited toy fairs and met Bernie and Graham. He bought most of Bernie and Graham’s stock of military aircraft, and then became interested in the business potential of white metal models. He had funds to invest, and jointly with Bernie and Graham, successfully applied for a grant to develop a factory in Redruth.

Graham had become friendly with John Hall, who agreed to produce the first three models in the new Gems & Cobwebs range, the first being the Jaguar MkVII.

Ken visited the Gems & Cobwebs factory regularly, and together with a friend from Cyprus, also entered into discussions with John Hall when he was considering selling Brooklin Models in 1992/93. Gems & Cobwebs needed its future to be assured once the grant ended, and so a plan emerged to bring together Gems & Cobwebs and Brooklin Models. Despite initial enthusiasm, the new partnership never materialised, and each went their separate ways.

After a while they developed the brand name of Milestone Miniatures, and created not only a wide range of model cars, but also two further ranges, one for Brooklands Museum, and the other a range of American cars known as 43^rd Avenue.

They tended to use a variety of pattern markers, but in due course also chose to do their own casting and total assembly, and at the peak of their success the company employed 12 staff.

Model Garage, already a well established business, was subsequently sold to its present owner Rod Hunt in 1992. The home of that business has moved over the years, but is currently based in Colyton, East Devon at the premises of Rod’s other business, Colyton Antiques Centre, which he acquired in 2000.

Just prior to ceasing production in 2008, Milestone Miniatures produced a model of the R.N.L.I. Tamar Class Lifeboat. This is now a very rare model, developed as a prototype and made for approval by the R.N.L.I. This was granted and a run of less than 50 units of these then new Tamar lifeboats was produced as presentation items to crew members on special occasions. With the exception of the aerials and some of the railings the model is produced from white metal and hand assembled. This example pictured bears the name of "Spirit of Padstow" and is number 16-04. It is the only one produced with this livery. The model is 5.5” long and is displayed on a wooden display plinth with a glass cover.

Subject ID: 81201

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