Growing up in the 1950's Geoff has many memories of birthdays and christmas time when children's presents included "dressing up outfits" i.e. Cowboy outfit, Drs and Nurses and more appropriate Bus Conductor outfits.  These were very popular from the early 1930's to the mid 1960's. 

Our Miniature Coach collection is complimented by a display of these items built up over the last fifty years and our records show that over 43 different sets/products were produced with bus tickets to match.  The information listed has been collated from many sources over the years.

A. S. Cartwright of Hockley, Birmingham - trademark: Holdfast - first registered 'Conductor' for the Bus Conductor sets with tin punches in 1929 and produced many of the tin punches before being taken over by Chad Valley in 1950 who continued to produce these up until the 1960's.

Other companies producing these sets were: RITZ Toys between the 1930's and the 1950's - GWENDA Toys sold the Register punch from 1939 - produced for Holdfast and these had a different side lever on the machine.  UNITY Toy sets from the 1930's were with the Juvenile Omnibus and Tramways logo on the machine and KAY Toys were sold from the late 1940's.

Later producers were BETAL Games between the 1950's and 1960's with G.O.C. on the tin machine - followed by the DIECAST Machine Toy Company who produced the popular diecast ticket roll machine in 1953 and also a diecast ticket punch under the name of LONE STAR.  They were involved with CRESCENT Toys and taken over in 1980.  The most popular producer throughout the 1950's and 1960's were BERWICK Toys whose Conductor box sets were many.  The boxes themselves provide some nice period memorabilia.  The early sets included tin machines followed by a plastic modern machine in red and white with LTC on the front and issued tickets.  A smaller individual roll plastic machine on card was also manufactured.

Similar international items were produced in Japan in the 1950's.  USA issued both JACKIE GLEASON 1955 outfit and SGT. EDDY outfits in 1950 with hat, tickets, nippers etc.  LINDSAY's from Australia produced a Bus Conductor outfit in the 1960's.

Tinplate Punch Machines include:  G.O.C. - RITZ - GENERAL - LPTB - GILCO - ERO CITY TRAMWAYS COMPANY - CORPORATION TRAMWAYS - REGISTER - JUVENILE OMNIBUS AND TRAMWAY - KAY TOYS - T.P. BUS CO. - NTB - LTC - T.O.C. - NATIONAL TRANSPORT - BTC -   999 TRAMWAYS AND BUS CO.

The tin conductor badges are many but numbers include - 24 - 48 -75 - 203 - 453 - 1576 - 1822 - 1902 - 2159 - 2380 -2821 - 3063 - 3249 - 3685 - 3693 - 4369 - 4570 - 4853 - 7173.

Original punch tickets by Bell Punch include KAY Toys Bus Company - Toy Bus Company - Toy Town Omnibus Company and were usually values 1d. 2d. 3d. 4d. and 5d.  Williamson produced punch tickets for UNITY Omnibus Corporation. 

** Geoff is interested if you have any additional information and is looking for punch machines - National Transport, BTC, and the 999 Tramways and Bus Company.  Please email transtar@talk21.com  **