During the golden age of steam - when the Industrial Revolution transformed England into a commercial powerhouse - William Foden was instrumental in developing steam-powered vehicles that literally propelled progress. These trucks were used to transport the raw materials manufacturers needed to produce products at a record pace, including lumber from the forests of the United Kingdom. In 1900, Foden created one of his proudest achievements - an "overtype" 300 psi steam engine ingeniously mounted on a short locomotive-type boiler. It enabled Foden trucks to travel at two speeds. Over the next two decades, Foden kept improving his steam-powered engines to make his trucks move faster to keep up with the rapid pace of change. One important role his vehicles played was to transport timber to be used to create furniture and a wide variety of paper and other products. Now a steam-powered Foden truck is carrying lumber in a masterful limited edition collector vehicle by Matchbox.

Other Notes:This is the Foden steam wagon in the livery of F. Parker and Co, Timber Importers. The basic model is well known, and has been pleasantly finished in deep red-brown with gold lettering. Perhaps more significant is load, produced as a hand-painted cold cast sculpture. Not only do the planks of wood look realistic, but there are pleasing touches, such as the pieces of red rag attached to the ends of the planks, the tarpaulin covering the load affixed with rope, with excess rope curled on top of the planks. The result is an attractive model.

(1997)

Scale: 1:72