Wilesco
| 180px | |
| GmbH & Co. KG | |
| Industry | Toys and metal goods |
| Founded | 1912[1] |
| Founder | Wilhelm Schröder Ernst Wortmann[1] |
| Headquarters | Lüdenscheid, Germany |
|
Area served
|
Worldwide |
|
Key people
|
Thomas Schröder (CEO)[2] |
| Products | Mainly toy steam engines and accessories |
| Website | wilesco.de |
Wilesco is the trade name of German toy company Wilhelm Schröder GmbH & Co. KG, known for manufacturing live steam toys such as steamrollers, traction engines, and stationary steam engines.
Initially a producer of aluminium forks and spoons, the company expanded into miniature aluminium accessories for doll's tea parties in the 1920s. This decision also helped the company weather the economic crisis of the late 1920s and early 1930s because these toys were also exported to the US.[3]
In 1950, Wilesco started manufacturing miniature steam engines.[4] In 1966, the D 365 "Old Smokey" steamroller was introduced which has been popular among collectors and continues to be produced.[3][5]
The company also manufactures various accessories for their steam engines such as electrical generators, steam workshops and fairground rides.[6] While most of their steam engine models are heated by esbit, electrical heating is also available.[7] Steam-powered toy locomotives (G scale) were also available from Wilesco for a while.[8]
The company still manufactures a range of plastic and aluminium scoops and hooks, as well as steam toys.
Wilesco's main rival is the British-based steam model manufacturer: Mamod. Mamod and Wilesco produce similar models, at similar prices and size range.
Gallery
-
Wilesco D3 steam engine.jpg
D3, one of the lowest-priced Wilesco engines
-
Wilesco D6 steam engine, running.jpg
A running Wilesco D6
-
Wilesco D16 steam engine1.jpg
Wilesco D16 (1970s; colours not original)
-
Wilesco-dampfmaschine-D161.jpg
Wilesco D161 (same engine as D16, but with workshop)
-
Wilesco D32.jpg
A 1970s twin-cylinder D32
-
Wilesco D36 1.jpg
"Old Smokey" D36 (1980s)
-
Wilesco d36 3.jpg
Closeup view of the steam cylinder and safety valve of "Old Smokey"
-
Wilesco D366.jpg
D366, an all-brass version of "Old Smokey"
See also
References
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
Cite error: Invalid <references> tag; parameter "group" is allowed only.
<references />, or <references group="..." />External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to [[commons:Lua error in Module:WikidataIB at line 506: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).|Lua error in Module:WikidataIB at line 506: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).]]. |
- Official site
- Wilesco Factory Tour on YouTube
- Wilesco models picture gallery
- ToySteamBible.org: Wilesco
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ http://wilesco.de/wilesco/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=126&Itemid=140&lang=en
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 http://www.quirao.com/en/a/wilesco-fabrication-machines-a-vapeur-miniature-locomotive-auto.htm
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ http://www.wilesco.de/wilesco/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=25&Itemid=37&lang=en
- ↑ http://www.wilesco.de/wilesco/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=44&Itemid=56&lang=en
- ↑ http://www.wilesco.de/wilesco/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=42&Itemid=54&lang=en
- ↑ http://www.ministeam.com/acatalog/Wilesco_G_Scale_Trains.html
