Model Tramcar
1920-1929 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Model of a tramcar, wood painted red, cream and black. The lower deck has upholstered seating, two interior lights and two sliding entry doors. At the outer end of the doors' upper channel is a slot in which, on a real tram, the conductor would have placed their ticket holder when not collecting fares. The upper deck is fitted with 'authentic' reversible seats. Originally, there was to be a trolley pole but this was never fitted. There were originally destination indicators at either end of the tram, but these are now missing. One destination board is still fitted to the side (although the opposite one is missing). The board reads on one side: 'Chiswick, Gunnersbury, Turnham Green, Bedford Park, Grove Park'; and on the other side: 'Brentford, Hammersmith, Kew, Barnes, Mortlake and Richmond'. Cowcatcher rails were originally fitted between the wheels, only one of these is still present. There is a light at each end of the tram, originally powered by batteries. All paintwork is original.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Painted wood |
| Brief description | Wooden and metal model of an open-topped tramcar, made in England in the 1920s |
| Physical description | Model of a tramcar, wood painted red, cream and black. The lower deck has upholstered seating, two interior lights and two sliding entry doors. At the outer end of the doors' upper channel is a slot in which, on a real tram, the conductor would have placed their ticket holder when not collecting fares. The upper deck is fitted with 'authentic' reversible seats. Originally, there was to be a trolley pole but this was never fitted. There were originally destination indicators at either end of the tram, but these are now missing. One destination board is still fitted to the side (although the opposite one is missing). The board reads on one side: 'Chiswick, Gunnersbury, Turnham Green, Bedford Park, Grove Park'; and on the other side: 'Brentford, Hammersmith, Kew, Barnes, Mortlake and Richmond'. Cowcatcher rails were originally fitted between the wheels, only one of these is still present. There is a light at each end of the tram, originally powered by batteries. All paintwork is original. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Unique |
| Credit line | Given by W. L. Simpson |
| Object history | From a letter received from the donor, W.L. Simpson, at the point of acquisition: 'Tramcar built in approx. 1920 by:- R.G.A. Mustoe of 53 Wilmington Ave., Chiswick. He was a master craftsman and expert gardener winning, in 1926, a Silver Rose Bowl for the best kept garden in the Daily Express competition of that year. The tramcar was built for W.L. Simpson as a Christmas gift, probably for the year 1920. It is not claimed to be, by any means, a true scale model but, as a toy, it is fairly representative of the open-decked trams which ran along the Chiswick High Rd. in the early twenties'. W.L. Simpson gave the tramcar to the Museum in 1975 [75/87]. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Places depicted | |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | MISC.15-1975 |
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| Record created | July 1, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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