Yesteryear Collection

Since 1860, John Fowler of Leeds had been making agricultural machines. The advent of steam allowed for much experimentation among manufacturers, and the Fowler company soon fitted fire-tubed boilers to its vehicles in the quest to enhance performance. These "showman's" engines were often fitted with elaborate ornamentation, but it was their mobility that made them so valuable in the fields where they could be set up at threshing time to enhance productivity.
The most popular steam machines of the day serviced not only coal mines, farms and hauling firms, but amusement as well. Machines that had been working for 25 years were often "retired" to fairgrounds. The engines propelled the rides, while the spare steam-powered generators produced electricity for the entire show.
Eventually, the steam-engine threshing machine was replaced by the combine harvester in the 1950s. However, John Fowler's long and distinguished legacy lives on as a die-cast classic by Matchbox Collectibles.

Information as from "The Yesteryear Book 1956-2002"
YAS05-M; 1905 Fowler B6 Showmans Engine																	Checklist
Issue	Year of Release	Colour	Smokebox/Front Axle Support	Generator & Platform	Crew Platform Area	Roof	Roof Speaders	Smoke Stacks	Wheels	Tyres	Ashcan & Water Tank	Plated Parts	Series Number	Baseplate	Rarity	Box	My Ref.	Location
1	1996	Mahogany red body & boiler	Black	Mahogany red body & boiler	Black	Satin ivory top Mahogany red underside	Metallic mahogany red	Black, unpainted Gloss black extension	Mahogany red 12 spoke front, 18 spoke rear Press fit	Painted matt black	Black	Gold	Cast YAS05	Cast 1986 MATCHBOX COLLECTIBLES CHINA		Q2		Cabinet-4/Box-8
2		Mahogany red body & boiler	Black	Mahogany red body & boiler	Black	Gloss ivory top Mahogany red underside	Metallic mahogany red	Black, unpainted Gloss black extension	Mahogany red 12 spoke front, 18 spoke rear Press fit	Painted matt black	Black	Gold	Cast YAS05	Cast 1986 MATCHBOX COLLECTIBLES CHINA		Q2
3		Mahogany red body & boiler	Black	Mahogany red body & boiler	Black	Satin ivory top Mahogany red underside	Metallic mahogany red	Black, unpainted Gloss black extension	Mahogany red 12 spoke front, 18 spoke rear Press fit	Painted matt black	Black	Gold	Cast YAS05	Cast 1986 MATCHBOX COLLECTIBLES CHINA		Q2
4		Mahogany red body & boiler	Black	Mahogany red body & boiler	Black	Gloss off-white top Mahogany red underside	Mahogany red	Black, unpainted Gloss black extension	Mahogany red 12 spoke front, 18 spoke rear Press fit	Painted matt black	Black	Gold	Cast YAS05	Cast 1986 MATCHBOX COLLECTIBLES CHINA		Q2
Rarity: D - Difficult; S - Scarce; R - Rare; VR - Very Rare; ER - Extremely Rare
Box: Q2 - Yellow and cream standard style box, slightly larger than Q1