Morestone Articulated Car Carrier
Issued 1956-1957 Length 243mm
One of the most innovative toys produced by Morestone, the Ariculated Car Carrier was also one of the largest. It was actually made by Kemlows of Wood Green, London (who also made the Sentry Box Series of miniatures) and was the first working model of a car transporter to be made anywhere (prior to Corgi or Dinky models).
The grey painted trailer was a piece of master toy making for the time. It was made up of a number of different castings: lower and upper decks, four corner supports, two side guide-poles, rear ramps and even four small model chocks to hold the vehicles in place. The upper deck could be lowered by releasing the side poles and moving the deck backwards on the moving corner supports and was returned to the raised position by lifting and allowing the side poles to lock in position. Underneath in a rectangular panel was cast 'Made in England'.
The separate ramps of the Morestone Car Carrier slotted onto the rear for loading and when not in use could be slung on racks situated beneath the lower deck. The little wheel chocks fitted into holes at the rear of each deck to prevent the cars rolling off the back.
The delicate casting of the trailer was sadly not so good on the cab. It was based on a Bedford vehicle and coloured orange-red with silver trim on the front grille and bumper. Underneath, 'Morestone Series' was cast with 'Made in England' in a rectangular panel. The coupling with the trailer was permanent and could not be detached.
The wheels of the Morestone Car Carrier were metal, painted orange-red on the cab and grey on the transporter trailer. The rear wheels of the cab were wider to accomodate the double tyres which were black treaded rubber throughout. The axles were round-head and crimped.
The Articulated Car Carrier was a large toy and was given a lidded box with a deep lower section. It was made of brown card coated in red coloured paper with a paper label on the lid illustrating the model and describing it as a 'Working Model'. 'Morestone Series' was also included on the label and unusually the full name and address of the 'Manufacturers' Morris & Stone (London) Ltd. was given.
The Morestone Articulated Car Carrier is a hard model to find with the original accessories, and boxed examples are rare.
Morestone Articulated Car Carrier
ORANGE-RED cab including painted metal wheels
GREY transporter trailer including pmw, 2 rear ramps
4 unpainted metal chocks
Morestone Series lidded box with paper label