News & Events

Mike's Updates

Wednesday 15/01/2025

Firstly of all my apologies for some late parcels being dispatched a lot of orders have been placed Thank you for that, I have just struggled to keep up with demand, I am on top of it now so if you have not received details please let me know. On another point before paying please wait for me to add the postage/shipping prices to your invoice I have received a few payments and the postage is outstanding

I am continuing to add new items as they arise. I hope to continue adding items as time permits which can be a few every day.

There are some really interesting items in the last few updates/additions such Coaches, Locomotives and Goods rolling stock, blue base refrigerator vans, Gunpowder vans, Private owners, and many many more items. There is a good quantity of accessories, including a near Mint Boxed 2A Engine shed, electric island platform Stations, a rare ‘BRISTOL’ electric Island platform and station, Passenger platforms, Signals, Lamp standards, etc., so keep coming back. I have a number of items on the site to suit all types of Vintage 0 Gauge collectors, from Hornby £12 post-war wagons to Princess Elizabeth at £1595 (now sold) and many more items.

Bassett Lowke items includes a Exley coaches, Bing for Bassett Lowke Live steam Midland ‘Greater Britain’, Flying Scotsman No.103 in electric, Winteringham wagons ranged from £28 to a Bassett Lowke BR Duchess and Rebuilt Royal Scot, LMS 3-rail electric Duchess at £1250, Stanier Tank at £795, LMS mogul and many more items!

SO KEEP LOOKING!

Post Office Current Parcel Prices

For the UK

Royal Mail 1st Class and Special Delivery are used for UK delivery.

Special Delivery

Up to 1 kilo = £10.00
1.0 – 1.99 kilos = £13.00
Parcels between 2 kilos to 10 kilos
£18.00 (insured to £750)
£28.00 (insured to £2500)

Royal Mail First Class and Signed-for

Small Parcel
£6.00 – under 2 kilos.
Medium Parcel
£8.00 – between 2 and 10 kilos.
£9.00 – between 10 and 20 kilos.

Europe

Parcels to Holland, France, and Germany are taking a few extra days, but delivery times have improved vastly in the last six months.

Accurate Overseas Prices

CAN ANYONE HELP?

I have been asking about this for some time, but information to date includes Post office personnel The Post Office has removed (or hidden) a form for calculating postage costs to the UK and overseas destinations, and the information available now is ‘as clear as Mud’.

I am trying to calculate accurate overseas postage costs but have not had much success, I will keep trying. If anyone out there can point me in the right direction I would be pleased to hear from you. Any help would be appreciated.

Online Payments

Thank you to all customers who are paying through the website. It should be easy for you. If you are having difficulties, please let me know. I know the website link was broken twice, not allowing customers to pay for items. I apologise. This has been sorted out, so please let me know if you experience any issues.

There has been a bank transfer matching problem. Apparently, my name did not match the name on the bank account, so I have changed it to comply with the bank details. I have always been known as Mike, but the account is under ‘Michael Delaney T/A Vintage Toys’, so I apologise to those affected.

PayPal

I do not accept PayPal as a direct payment unless it is agreed with me.

PayPal charges me 5.1% once the money hits the PayPal account before any transfer to my Bank account. I find this percentage of deduction by them to be wholly unacceptable, these costs are not included in my cost of selling. There is a transfer facility under Friend and Family, for which I understand there is no charge, so please, I will reluctantly accept that method as a last resort.

I closed one of my PayPal accounts a while ago because PayPal held on to the money and would not allow the funds to be transferred to my bank account, so I returned the payment to the sender.

Payments can be made directly on the site, which is fully secure. I have to complete an annual audit to ensure compliance.

If you prefer, you can ring me with card details, pay by direct bank transfer, or send a cheque.

I am more than happy to talk to anyone who has a problem making payments or is concerned about the security of payment through the Internet.

My ultimate aim is to make sure your transaction process is smooth, easy for you to operate, secure, and you are happy with your item. I am all for making it as easy as possible in this complicated world we live in today.

Product Additions

I have been adding Bassett Lowke items as and when they become available.

I have listed a Rare Bassett Lowke A4 Loco & Tender ‘Sir Nigel Greasley’. On the 17/11/2024 I listed a modern Hehr (Replica Marklin) 2-8-2 ‘Cock o the North’ LNER lined green (Now sold) , Midland ‘Greater Britain’, clockwork Flying Scotsman, LMS compound, LMS mail coach boxed etc.

I have listed a BR Duchess 3-rail electric and boxed, 2-6-0 GWR 3-rail electric Mogul alas no tender, BR Prince Charles’ in 3-rail electric, 3-rail electric track, Straight, curves, points etc, we still have a Black electric 2-6-4 Stanier Tank Loco, continuing to add Winteringham 1930’s wagons in LMS, GWR and SR all types including Open, Covered and Brake vans.

I also have a number of Exley coaches. I have not had the time to list some Marklin Pullman coaches so they will have to wait until I return home. On the larger Gauge front, I have nothing more to add.

I have purchased some 1960’s corgi diecast Car and commercial and have listed just a few of them.

Collections of Hornby and Bassett Lowke are still coming in but much slower than last year I am afraid that some sellers expectations of value are well above my own in the last number of months which makes it impossible to purchase some collections and I know of a few that are ‘making the rounds’, but not for me.

I pride myself in offering the best quality available in the market place and I strive to try and keep to the quality level. Offers are being made on a weekly basis and I will add them to the site as time permits.

My own layout is coming on very well with 2 ovals with inside engine shed area and a terminal station all fitted in, The problem with some of the older mechs continue to be a problem but that is something I have had to accept in collecting some of these near 100 year old vintage trains, but still very frustrating, I do like to make sure they all run and perform well on the layout.

Of course the layout will never be finished there is always some to add/change which in many way is part of the enjoyment so happy collecting and running.

Events

Remember to support/attend your local events. For me, under the HRCA banner, that will be Mortimer near Reading and for the Bassett Lowke Society at Digswell AL6 0EA, so go along and enjoy the running events.

The Hornby Mortimer event near Reading has running facilities in 0 and Dublo. It runs every second Wednesday of each month starting at 5:00 p.m. (some dates change, so keep an eye on the magazine for changes).

The Bassett Lowke meetings at the Cowper Arms Digswell AL6 0EA include the Bassett Lowke 3-rail raised centre 3rd layout. I will publish dates as I am made aware of them. Please support your local events and bring something to run.

Buying Instructions

When you have placed an order, please make sure your basket shows the item/s. You will receive confirmation of the order.

If this does not happen, please check your spam box to make sure the email/s has not ended up there.

Please contact me if you do not receive a total, including the posting/shipping cost.

Please do not pay for the order until I have added the postage/shipping cost, which will depend on the packed weight of the item/s and the destination.

You can always call me on 07979 910760 if you have any doubts about your order or other matters. I accept payment on the site by card or bank transfer.

Please do not pay by PayPal in the UK. They charge 5% to transfer the money to my bank account.

It is fine if you prefer to pay over the phone directly or send a cheque or cash.

I realise that we all have budgets to work to, so you can secure any item with a deposit within an agreed time frame. Give me a call to discuss this option if it is of interest.

Don’t forget to let me know if you want anything in particular. I will always keep an eye out and let you know if they are in stock.

Additional pictures are available for all items on the site. If you are unsure about an item, you can also contact me to discuss it on the phone, and I can describe it to you.

Many of my recent items have quickly found new homes, so if you are looking for something particular, you can always ask, and I will let you know if/when they are in stock.

Your Items for Sale

I am always looking for nice items to add to my updates, so if you have something to sell, a single item or a whole collection, let me know. I might be able to offer you the price you are looking for. I can also offer to sell your items on a commission basis (subject to agreement on the selling price), so give me a ring or email with details.

Valuations

I do valuations for probate and insurance at competitive rates of £200 per day plus travelling expenses.

I will also sell your items on commission at 10%, subject to a minimum value. Any collections purchased (subject to the right quality) where a valuation has been paid will be fully refunded.

Payment will be transferred directly to your bank account on collection.

So, if you are thinking of selling a collection or require help disposing of one, call me at 07979 910760 or email me at [email protected].

New Items a small selection

Events

February 2025

Mortimer evening running event - 12 February at 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Hornby HRCA event running Hornby 0 Gauge and Dublo layouts so come along, bring something to run and enjoy an evening with like minded collectors/runners.

I will have a great table of Hornby 0 Gauge for sale

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Kidlington Toy Fair - 15 February at 10:30 am - 2:30 pm

The local Toy fair for me at the Exeter Hall Kidlington Oxfordshire, I will have 2 tables of my quality Hornby/Bassett lowke and other Vintage 0 Gauge and large Trains, coaches , wagons and Accessories

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Sandown Park Toy Fair - 22 February at 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

I shall be attending with 4 tables full of my quality stock available, if there is something in particular that you want to see then please ring me to ensure I will have it with me

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March 2025

Mortimer evening running event - 12 March at 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Hornby HRCA event running Hornby 0 Gauge and Dublo layouts so come along, bring something to run and enjoy an evening with like minded collectors/runners.

I will have a great table of Hornby 0 Gauge for sale

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April 2025

Mortimer evening running event - 9 April at 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Hornby HRCA event running Hornby 0 Gauge and Dublo layouts so come along, bring something to run and enjoy an evening with like minded collectors/runners.

I will have a great table of Hornby 0 Gauge for sale

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HRCA Spring Exhibition Show at the GWR Swindon Railway centre Swindon Wiltshire. - 26 April at 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

I will have a few tables of my super quality Hornby 0 Gauge available pre and post war so come along and have a wonderful day out which will include a number of layouts, The bring and buy table and the museum is free to visiting members.

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May 2025

Mortimer evening running event - 7 May at 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Hornby HRCA event running Hornby 0 Gauge and Dublo layouts so come along, bring something to run and enjoy an evening with like minded collectors/runners.

I will have a great table of Hornby 0 Gauge for sale – PLEASE NOTE- This is a week earlier this month

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Kidlington Toy Fair - 10 May at 10:30 am - 2:30 pm

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Sandown Park Toy Fair - 17 May at 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

I shall be attending with 4 tables full of my quality stock available, if there is something in particular that you want to see then please ring me to ensure I will have it with me

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June 2025

Bassett Lowke / TCS Vintage Toy Train Show at Gaydon Motor Museum - 7 June at 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Great TCS/Bassett Lowke Vintage Toy Train Show at the Gaydon Motor Museum – Large Bassett Lowke layout in o Gauge I shall be attending with a good selection of my super quality Vintage Toy train by Bassett Lowke, Exley, LMC etc etc and some Gauge 1 items. Even if you are not buying come and have a chat it is always good to talk to like minded collectors.

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Mortimer evening running event - 11 June at 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Hornby HRCA event running Hornby 0 Gauge and Dublo layouts so come along, bring something to run and enjoy an evening with like minded collectors/runners.

I will have a great table of Hornby 0 Gauge for sale

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August 2025

Kidlington Toy Fair - 16 August at 10:30 am - 2:30 pm

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September 2025

Sandown Park Toy Fair - 6 September at 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

I shall be attending with 4 tables full of my quality stock available, if there is something in particular that you want to see then please ring me to ensure I will have it with me

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November 2025

Kidlington Toy Fair - 8 November at 10:30 am - 2:30 pm

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Sandown Park Toy Fair - 15 November at 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

I shall be attending with 4 tables full of my quality stock available, if there is something in particular that you want to see then please ring me to ensure I will have it with me

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