Leeds Model Company

Leeds Model Company was a British model-railway manufacturer founded by Rex Stedman in 1912. The company operated during the formative decades of the twentieth-century model-train industry, producing O-gauge coaches and wagons, a broad range of model locomotives, track, and related railway accessories. Its coaches and wagons were initially made from wood and commonly featured lithographed sides, combining a relatively accessible construction method with printed visual details representing railway vehicles. The company occupied a competitive position in the British model-railway market of the 1920s and 1930s. Its products were regarded as comparable in quality with those of other established manufacturers, including Bassett Lowke and Hornby Trains, which were widely recognized in the United Kingdom as leading model-train companies during that period. Leeds Model Company’s range extended beyond rolling stock to include locomotives and the infrastructure and accessories required for a model railway layout, giving it a broader offering than a specialist wagon maker. The business experienced several changes in ownership and trading identity during its history. Rex Stedman left the company in 1928 and established R. F. Stedman & Co. He subsequently acquired the Leeds Model Company and continued trading under the R. F. Stedman name. Stedman left the business again in 1931, after which the Leeds Model Company name was restored. These changes make the relationship between the LMC name and the R. F. Stedman business an important part of the company’s historical identity. Shortly before the Second World War, Leeds Model Company began manufacturing coaches and wagons from Bakelite, an early molded plastic. This represented a material change from its earlier wooden rolling stock and formed part of the company’s later product development. The available historical record does not establish the full scale or duration of wartime production, but the pre-war transition is a notable manufacturing milestone. In 1953, the company became Ellemsee Accessories. The original Leeds Model Company identity therefore ceased to operate as an independent trading name, although the business survived under the successor name until 1966. In 1983, the Leeds Stedman Trust was established to preserve the archives of the Leeds Model Company and R. F. Stedman & Co. The Trust also supports enthusiasts through spares, repairs, and technical advice and promotes interest in and appreciation of the companies’ products. It is a heritage and collector-support organization rather than a continuation of the original manufacturing company.

Rex Stedman founded the Leeds Model Company in 1912. The business became a participant in the expanding British model-railway market, producing O-gauge wooden coaches and wagons with lithographed sides, model locomotives, track, and railway accessories. Its output was considered comparable in quality with products from prominent contemporary manufacturers such as Bassett Lowke and Hornby Trains. Stedman left the Leeds Model Company in 1928 to establish R. F. Stedman & Co. He later purchased the Leeds Model Company, but continued trading under the R. F. Stedman name. In 1931, Stedman left the business, and the Leeds Model Company name was restored. The sequence of departures, acquisition, and name changes created a close historical connection between LMC and R. F. Stedman & Co. Just before the Second World War, the company changed part of its rolling-stock production from wood to Bakelite, manufacturing coaches and wagons from the molded plastic. This was one of the company’s significant material and product-development changes. Its wider range continued to include locomotives, track, and railway accessories, although the available reference material does not provide a complete catalogue or detailed production chronology. In 1953, Leeds Model Company became Ellemsee Accessories. The company continued under that successor identity until 1966, marking the end of the operating history associated with the business. The original LMC brand consequently became a historical and collectors’ subject rather than an active manufacturer. The Leeds Stedman Trust was founded in 1983 to preserve the archives of the Leeds Model Company and R. F. Stedman & Co. The Trust provides spares, repairs, and technical advice for enthusiasts and works to maintain interest in and appreciation of the companies’ products. Its activities provide an ongoing heritage connection to the former manufacturer, but the Trust should not be confused with the original commercial company.

• 1983

  Leeds Stedman Trust established

  [1]Leeds Model Companyen.wikipedia.org

  The Leeds Stedman Trust was created to preserve company archives and support enthusiasts through spares, repairs, and technical advice.

• 1966

  Successor business ceases operation

  [1]Leeds Model Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Ellemsee Accessories survived until 1966, ending the known commercial operating history of the successor business.

• 1953

  Business becomes Ellemsee Accessories

  [1]Leeds Model Companyen.wikipedia.org

  The Leeds Model Company changed its name to Ellemsee Accessories.

• 1931

  Leeds Model Company name restored

  [1]Leeds Model Companyen.wikipedia.org

  After Stedman left the business, the company reverted to the Leeds Model Company name.

• 1930

  Bakelite rolling stock introduced before the Second World War

  [1]Leeds Model Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Shortly before the Second World War, the company began making coaches and wagons from Bakelite rather than relying exclusively on wooden construction.

• 1928

  Rex Stedman leaves and forms R. F. Stedman & Co.

  [1]Leeds Model Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Stedman left Leeds Model Company and founded a separate business under the name R. F. Stedman & Co.

• 1928

  Leeds Model Company acquired by Rex Stedman

  [1]Leeds Model Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Stedman later purchased the Leeds Model Company but continued trading under the R. F. Stedman name.

• 1912

  Leeds Model Company founded

  [1]Leeds Model Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Rex Stedman established the Leeds Model Company in Leeds, England.

A British early-to-mid twentieth-century model-railway manufacturer offering a broad O-gauge range, positioned alongside established contemporaries such as Bassett Lowke and Hornby Trains.

• Rolling stock

  O-gauge wooden coaches and wagons

  These were among the company’s characteristic products. The coaches and wagons used wooden construction and lithographed sides, supplying visually detailed rolling stock for O-gauge layouts. Their construction and printed finishes reflected the manufacturing practices of the period and formed an important part of Leeds Model Company’s early and mature range.

• Rolling stock

  Bakelite coaches and wagons

  Shortly before the Second World War, Leeds Model Company began producing coaches and wagons from Bakelite, an early molded plastic. The change marked a move away from the company’s earlier wooden construction and illustrates its adoption of an alternative material for model-railway rolling stock.

• Locomotives

  Model locomotives

  Leeds Model Company produced a large range of model locomotives as part of its broad model-railway catalogue. The available reference does not specify the complete locomotive roster, mechanisms, liveries, or production dates, but locomotives were a central part of the company’s offering alongside rolling stock and layout equipment.

• Layout equipment

  Model railway track and accessories

  The company also supplied track and railway accessories intended to support complete model layouts. These products complemented its locomotives and rolling stock and helped position Leeds Model Company as a broad-range model-railway supplier rather than a manufacturer limited to individual train vehicles.

• 1953

  Reorganization as Ellemsee AccessoriesStrategy

  Background

  After decades of trading associated with the Leeds Model Company name and a period connected with R. F. Stedman & Co., the business underwent a further identity change.

  Action taken

  The company became Ellemsee Accessories.

  Aftermath

  The successor business survived until 1966, after which the commercial operation ended.

  Source

• 1930

  Adoption of Bakelite for coaches and wagonsProduct launch

  Background

  Shortly before the Second World War, the company was producing coaches and wagons from Bakelite after previously making such products from wood.

  Action taken

  Leeds Model Company introduced Bakelite construction for part of its rolling-stock range.

  Aftermath

  The change became a notable feature of the company’s late pre-war manufacturing history, although the available source does not quantify production or commercial results.

  Source

1. 1Leeds Model Companyen.wikipedia.org