Early Morestone Toys
Models sold by or attributed to Morestone
Scroll down for full list & links to models
Sam Morris began his wholesale toy business in 1946 in Stoke Newington, London, whilst nearby another small business was founded by Jim and Len Burkett making diecast toys under the name 'Modern Products'. Not surprisingly, the two soon began working together and the models they produced are well documented including the Racing Car from 1946 and the stage coach 'Ye Olde Coach & Four' a year later.
However, Sam Morris obtained toys for his wholesale business from a number of other toy makers such as Sam Agasee (S.A.Agasee Ltd.) and Everson & Brooks (Eebee). Some of these items were novelties like the 'Three Blind Mice' game, some were musical like the Dulcimer, whilst others were more conventional like the Boy on a Tricycle, the Penny Farthing and the Ice Cream Vendor.
North of the City of London before World War 2 there were a number of diecast toymakers centred on the Finsbury Pavement 'Toy City' and in 1946 when metal restrictions were lifted these again began making toys, sometimes using pre-war dies, and Sam Morris saw the opportunities of distributing and selling some of these.
In the early years toys made by other toymakers were often sold unboxed or in a modest box but in about 1948 Sam Morris decided to unify the models he sold and introduced the 'Morestone Series' name with toys in individual illustrated boxes.
It is not certain whether or not early toys now identified as Morestone were all marketed by Sam Morris but there is plenty of evidence that he saw the sales potential of interesting toys made by small toy-makers. As a result many of these have survived.
Modern replicas of some of early toys are now available and so collecting the original items, which are often hard to find, needs care.
Butcher's Delivery Boy on Bicycle
All-metal model with detachable figure and front tray (missing on red model)
Blue or red bicycle, umw with unpainted stand for rear wheel (missing on red model)
White figure with black boots and striped apron, pink trim on face and hands
White or cream open tray which slotted over front wheel containing meat with red trim
Circus Clown on Penny Farthing
All-metal model with detachable clown and sometimes with dog
Red cycle with dark-grey unpainted wheels; cream clown holding two red balls; red hat & buttons with face trim
Brown dog on rear platform (not included in box illustration)
End-flap box printed on one face and side only, no toymaker's name given
Manufactured by S.A.Agasee Ltd
Ice Cream Vendor
All-metal model, bicycle and rider (one casting) centrally rivetted through ice cream box to separate lid
Bicycle always black, rider had black trousers and white or black jacket, with trim on face & hands
Ice Cream box white, cream, pink, beige, or blue, lid red or green, umw, crimped axles
Tandem Bicycle with Sidecar
All metal model. Sidecar (including child) was a separate casting rivetted to cycle before painting
Unpainted, spoked wheels with full-width rear axle (crimped)
Red or blue cycle and sidecar (not always matching colours).
Blue or red child including hat, pink face trim
Cream, brown or beige riders (various combinations)
Pink trim on faces, hands & legs. Brown, tan or black hair
The riders were detachable but could be clipped in place
Boy on Tricycle
All metal model with steering and detachable rider
Main body of tricycle, handlebars and front forks were three separate castings
Unpainted metal wheels on nailhead+crimped axle (front) and push-fit (rear)
Red, green or yellow tricycle with silver trim on handlebars & front lamp
Boy rider was always blue including cap, with pink trim on face, hands and knees
Manufactured by S.A.Agasee Ltd.
Motorcycle & Sidecar
This may have been originally created as a
POLICE MOTORCYCLE PATROL
All metal model, fixed forks, cast-in passenger, separate motorcycle rider
Unpainted spoked metal wheels on nailhead & crimped axles
Red motorcycle & sidecar
Dark-brown (or black) painted passenger with pink face trim
Dark-brown (or black) painted rider with white gloves and white or pink face trim
Manufactured by Everson & Brooks (Eebee Toys)
'Three Blind Mice'
Novelty toy
Red metal base unit with illustrated card insert
Black lid with clear plastic top
Unpainted operating handle, inner mechanism & 'knife'
Separate unpainted metal 'stake'
'Morestone Series' illustrated box with instructions on end-flaps
Dulcimer
Musical toy with marked keys in the scale of C
Painted metal keys on yellow metal frame
Red or Blue printed music sheet 'Nuts and May'
Two wooden hammers
Lidded card box with 'Morestone Series' illustrated label
Station Truck
Mechanical Mule Station Truck
All metal model including unpainted wheels & axles
Red or Green single body casting painted on upper side only
Separately cast unpainted steering wheel
Brown female driver with pink hands/face and dark brown hair
Unpainted metal luggage
End-flap box with model name & picture printed on one face only
'Station Truck' & 'Made in England' on one side only
Both end-flaps plain
Manufactured by S.A.Agasee Ltd.
Monkey Handcart
All-metal model including monkey
Red trolley with a simple seat for the monkey
Unpainted wheels and mechanism
Dark-brown monkey with pink face, eyes and ears
The rear axle was cranked so when the trolley was pushed forward, the hand-lever moved and made it appear that the monkey was driving
Manufactured by S.A.Agasee Ltd.
