Budgie Toys No.456/P.P.
Mobile Police Patrol
Variation 4 - Triumph motorcycle
Variation 1
Variation 4
Variation 4 - Triumph motorcycle
Around 1958, Morris & Stone planned to replace the Morestone Motorcycles with a new casting ready for the launch of the Budgie Toys range. These were to be used for the AA and RAC Motorcycle Patrols and the four Solo Motorcycles. Unlike their coloured predecessors, these new Solo models were to be issued in a bright chrome finish with plastic riders. The first of these was the Mobile Police Patrol.
However, there must have been some old Morestone castings left in the storeroom because the first chrome-plated issue of No.456/PP used the Morestone casting with 'Made in England' on the right-hand side of the seat. The Police Patrol appears to have been the only one of the four Solo Motorcycles to have had this. The first issue blue plastic rider was also different from later versions having a white painted helmet and gloves (both later black) and black boots. The head was pale pink.
This model was issued in a Morris & Stone old-style Morestone Series box with the addition (in red) of the Budgie Toys number '456/PP' on the end flaps.
The new Budgie model was chrome-plated all over with unpainted metal wheels and black tyres. 'Made in England' was cast on the left side below the seat. This time the blue plastic rider had a black helmet and black gloves and boots. The face and head were painted bright pink. Later the black helmet was dropped in favour of plain, unpainted blue.
In 1964 the model was upgraded to a new casting of a Triumph motorcycle. This continued to be chrome plated with unpainted wheels and black tyres. The rider remained blue plastic with a blue helmet, black gloves and boots.
Boxes for the Budgie Police Patrol utilised the Morestone (Morris & Stone) design at first with the number '456/PP' added to the end-flaps. Later, when Guiterman took ownership, the Morestone boxes continued but the end-flaps were changed to read 'Made in England by a member of the Guiterman Group No.456/PP'.
Eventually the boxes for the Police Patrol were switched to yellow 'Budgie Models' boxes (B1) which had an illustration of the Budgie motorcycle. There was no upgrade when the Triumph models were issued.
Along with all the Solo Motorcycles, production of the Police Patrol ended in 1966.
Variation 1: Morestone m/cycle, white helmet & gloves, Morris & Stone numbered box
Variation 2: Budgie m/cycle, black helmet & gloves, Guiterman numbered box
Budgie No.456/PP Mobile Police Patrol
Variations
All models were chrome plated with umw & black tyres
All riders had black boots and pink head trim
1) MORESTONE m'cycle, 'Made in England' on RIGHT side, blue rider, WHITE helmet & gloves, Morris & Stone numbered box
2) BUDGIE m'cycle, 'Made in England' on LEFT side, blue rider, BLACK helmet, Morris & Stone or Guiterman numbered box
3) BUDGIE m'cycle, 'Made in England' on LEFT side, blue rider, BLUE helmet, Guiterman or Budgie box
4) TRIUMPH m'cycle, NO id., blue rider, BLUE helmet, Budgie box
Variation 4: Triumph m/cycle, blue helmet, Budgie box (B1)
Budgie 456/PP box variations