Morestone GPO Telegraph Boy Motorcycle
Issued 1956-1957 Length 82mm
Morestone produced four solo motorcycles using the same bike casting as the AA and RAC Patrol models which were issued at much the same time. They had steering, unpainted metal wheels with rubber tyres, 'Made in England' cast on the right side near the seat, and plain number-plates. Each one was painted a different colour, had an individual metal rider and a distinctive box.
The GPO (General Post Office) Telegraph Boy had a motorcycle painted bright red with silver trim on the number-plates, headlight and fuel tank. The metal rider was the same casting as the AA and RAC patrolmen and painted dark blue with a red helmet and black gloves and boots.
The four solo motorcycles had similar style boxes with each model having a different colour and an action illustration on the picture faces. The printed end-flaps of all the boxes had 'Manufactured by Morris & Stone (London) Ltd' with the Stoke Newington Church Street address. There were no numbers on the boxes.
The box for the GPO Telegraph Boy was red with an illustration of a rider in goggles. 'Morestone Series' was printed on each side.
The Morestone GPO Telegraph Boy is probably the easiest of the four solo bikes to find although the original box is less common. In 1959 when Morestone evolved into Budgie Toys, the GPO Telegraph Boy was re-issued in a chrome finish as Budgie No.456/GPO.
Morestone GPO Telegraph Boy
RED motorcycle with silver trim, 'Made in England' on right side
UNPAINTED wheels with black tyres
BLUE metal rider (red helmet), black gloves & boots
Morestone Series Box ('Morris & Stone' without number on end flaps)