White metal model boats are few and far between, but The D&M Casting Company made a lovely range of lifeboats for the RNLI, and Alan Dixon, was the man to launch them.
Alan joined the family business, Walkers Town Model Centre, in the early 1970s. This was a model shop selling railway, Scalextric, plastic kits, flying models etc. It was during this time that Alan and his partners recognised that there was a gap in the market for accessories in N gauge railways. With this in mind the firm began to make these items, such as street lamps, station furniture, people etc. This then developed into working N gauge model engines such as the Princess class, Black 5 etc. They also produced a range of vehicles for another supplier. The name D&M, of which Alan was the “D” was created to keep the casting of metal kits separate from the shop business.
Subject ID: 81159
MoreWhite metal model boats are few and far between, but The D&M Casting Company made a lovely range of lifeboats for the RNLI, and Alan Dixon, was the man to launch them.
Alan joined the family business, Walkers Town Model Centre, in the early 1970s. This was a model shop selling railway, Scalextric, plastic kits, flying models etc. It was during this time that Alan and his partners recognised that there was a gap in the market for accessories in N gauge railways. With this in mind the firm began to make these items, such as street lamps, station furniture, people etc. This then developed into working N gauge model engines such as the Princess class, Black 5 etc. They also produced a range of vehicles for another supplier. The name D&M, of which Alan was the “D” was created to keep the casting of metal kits separate from the shop business.
This business continued for several years, but then came the decline in model making, or more accurately the start of computer games, and the bottom fell out of the market. One of the partners left the business, the other continued but in a very smaller way, whilst Alan tried to develop the metal casting side. Being an active supporter of the RNLI, and knowing the buyer for them, the beginning of the range of Lifeboat models was nigh!
Alan’s first contact with their pattern maker was a fortuitous meeting when he came into the shop one day and one thing lead to another. He was a very skilled man who was already an industrial pattern maker. Alan recalls that he had fingers like bananas but could create the smallest and finest brass patterns he have ever seen. Sadly he died some years ago.
D&M Castings’ first premises were in a room upstairs above the shop. This was fine to begin with, but when the RNLI commissioned them to make the range of boats it was clear that they needed larger premises and a floor in a mill complex was rented that had been taken over by a metal fabrication business. All the equipment used was “home made” such as the casting machines, melting pots, mould press etc.
The D & M range continued right up to the end of the business. D&M only sold in the UK, although Alan had arranged to go to a trade fair in Belgium, and had created display units etc. Then the Falklands war broke out and the ferry he was due to sail on was commandeered for the war. He never got there. The production runs for the RNLI were for a new model every 6 months, with a view to creating the entire fleet past and present.
The company did operate a mail order side, but only with the D & M range, as well as through a wholesaler.
D&M Castings advertised in railway magazines, and their wholesaler also attended toy/model fairs etc with their products. Packaging was in cardboard outer boxes with smaller components packed in plastic bags inside the box.
Alan’s role was jack of all trades. He cast the items (along with one full timer and a couple of part timers) and made up the sample items for the customer. He also did some pattern making, usually the easier bits. No one else manufactured for them.
The end for D&M came thanks to the tax man. Alan was at a stage when he had to give serious thought to expanding the business or staying as they were. During this time he received a tax demand for several thousands of pounds that both he and his accountant knew they did not owe. On appeal they were told that they must pay the amount or face prosecution, and if the tax office was wrong then they would get the money back. Several thousand pounds for what had really become a one man business was for too much to absorb.
After having many sleepless nights, Alan got up one morning, picked up the phone and told the accountant to wind up the business because he was so annoyed by the attitude of the tax office. He did get the money back exactly 2 years later, but it was too late. Alan then became employed full time by the RNLI, and had no desire to return to casting. Sadly, therefore, there will be no more white metal lifeboat models, but haven’t they made a significant contribution in every way to our appreciation of the work of the RNLI, and to the range of models available in this medium.
Subject ID: 81159
Subject ID: 81159