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il 4 The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville, September 10,1986 A guide to fine dining and entertainment. Who Says Toys are Just for Kids Seen here with some antique toys in mint condition condition is Harry Allin, who has been collecting toys and models for over 60 years now. Mr. Allin restores and builds models himself and says he admires the work that went in to some of the older toys. by Rob Savage Remember that old toy boat you sent sailing in the local pond? Or the train you used to pull on a string? Harry Allin certainly remembers remembers them. He collects a variety of toys ând models, with some dating back to the turn of the century. His collection is a combination combination of original toys and models and some that have been restored. Quite often, the toy comes with a reminder reminder from its original user. An 80-year-old pull train in the collection is one example of this. "There was a piece of string still on it when I got it," Mr. Allin said. Other toys and models have equally fascinating histories. Many of the toys were originally built by the Bing Company, an international toy manufacturer that produced produced some well-crafted toys. Mr. Allin said some of the steam engines and trains he owns were made by Bing be fore World War One. Of the two steam engines, one is in its original shape while the other has been restored. The restored one had been in a fire and most of the paint was burned off of it. For most of the toys, the battered appearances are caused by the continuous use they gave to the children children who owned them. "They usually ,get pretty badly beaten up," Mr. Allin said. And sometimes the original original look has been altered by the children who owned them. One of the cars on the gauge trains owned by Mr. Allin was painted yellow by its original owner. The car should be green, "But with kids, you never know what they do," he said. The toys also show the care that older companies sometimes put into the creation creation of toys. One old steam roller owned by Mr. Allin has quite an intricate design. design. "For a kid's toy, it's very elaborate," he said. And in one of the old boats owned by Mr. Allin, you can find a working compass compass on the driver's dashboard. Mr. Allin said he still doesn't know why the boat's makers went to the trouble of putting the compass into the toy. That boat was made in the 1920s by a Beverly Hills company and is driven by clockwork. Mr. All in said he hasn't been able to find out anything about that' company, company, and only knows it existed because of its logo on the boat. He knows more about the models he has built, since many of the designs come from magazines like "Model Engineer" and "Live Steam." The British "Model Engineer" has been in print since 1898, and Mr. Allin has been subscribing to it since 1935. "And I got 'em all," he said, with nearly 1500 copies stored in a cupboard. cupboard. He belongs to the "Toronto "Toronto Society of Model En- BUSTER'S ROADHOUSE and TAVERN 45 KING STREET WEST, NEWCASTLE (416) 987-4442 Thursday, Sept. 11 APPEARING: Friday, Sept. 12 Saturday, Sept. 13 HARVEST Coming next week: Tim Taylor and Anita Ferras Armwrestling Championship Men's Classes 0-135 Bantam 136-150 Fly Wt. 151-165 Light Wt. 166-180 Middle 180-200 Light Heavy 201 - Plus Heavy Women's Classes 0-140 Light Wt. 141 - Up Open Class 1st and 2nd prizes Weigh-Ins Approximately 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Trophies and Cash RUMOURS at the Castle Hotel 54 KING STREET EAST, BOWMANVILLE (416) 623-7072 Presents: Sept. 12-13 -- "Head First" Next Week: Sept. 19-20 -- "Syndicate" gineers" and to "Pine Ridge Model Railroaders", although although he hasn't been actively actively involved with them for a few years. The large railway track in his backyard, backyard, which he uses for the large scale model train he built, was named the "Pine Ridge Railroad" after that Oshawa-based society. As for how he got started, Mr. Allin said ; he's been building models since the mid-1930's. He began with'a thrashing machine model in 1933 from a design tlîât he saw in a magazine. "Everything grew from that," he said. "I don't know what started me building it, I just did." The trashing machine was scaled down from equipment used in western Canada. His model was carefully designed, and won a silver medal at the Model Engineer's Exhibition Exhibition in 1948. He soon moved on to restoring restoring other models and building some of his own as well. His works continued to be on display at places like the Canadian National Exhibition, the Pumphouse Museum in Kingston, and a show in Hamilton. "They've been on display in umpteen places," he said. Eaton's has also had some of his works on display on two or three different occasions. occasions. It takes about 1500 hours for him to build a model, regardless regardless of its size. Once constructed, they can go towards a variety of uses. One boat was built in 1945 when his son was 12, and was well used. "He ran it hundreds of miles," Mr. Allin said. Another model, the "Dorchester", "Dorchester", is a replica of the first Canadian locomotive. Mr. Allin built it under contract contract for the Bowmanville Museum. He made his own designs for that model, since there were no existing designs available. available. However, he did get some reprints of engine designs designs from 1838 which were very similar to the engine sent to Canada in 1836. He enlarged those drawings to 10 11/16 inch diameter, the exact scale of his model. From those drawimgs, he managed to build an engine which looked exactly as the "Dorchester" did. He said that because it was made for the museum, it had to be an accurate replica. When you're building for yourself, you can change a few things, he added. The collection of toys and old models which complement complement his own creations began years ago but Mr. Allin isn't sure when. Of those toys and models he collects, he often admires admires the craftsmanship that went into their construction. construction. One large steam engine built by Roger Fishleigh in 1890 is admirable admirable because there weren't many tools available to him back then. "It's very well done for the period," Mr. Allin said. "He had the skill to build it. He must have been a good mechanic." These days, Mr. Allin uses a lathe, a drill press and a milling machine for his work. "You can make pretty near anything," he said. He's unsure where his mechanical ability comes from, however. It wasn't from his engineering work at the CBC, since he was an electrical technician and rarely did anything mechanical. Instead, he figures it's something that comes instinctively. instinctively. "I guess I just grew that way," he said. And while he enjoys fixing fixing those models and toys which have been battered over time, he occasionally leaves some to show their age. r _ 1 One parti'cuarly" battered toy warboatwilTremain untouched untouched by his hands. "Everybody says I should leave it as is," he said. "It looks ancient." Anxious Hockey Enthusiasts Prepare for Another Season It was registration time for Toro and house for teams were lined up. Taking part in league hockey on Friday at Bowmanville Mall proceedings, 1-r, Donna Morrison, Nan Spencer, where this photo was taken. And the reception Joanne Real, Don Baumhauer, Joe Real and Dawn appeared to be excellent and plentiful as recruits Dennis. Draw Funds to be Used for Sports Equipment "WATCH YOUR STEP"! Royal Canadian Legion Branch 178 Club Room Dance Every Friday Night >' A. ■ - - ", - ' , v - ■ ; ' ■ MEMBERS AND GUESTS ONLY Last Saturday afternoon, the winning ticket for the raffle held by the Courtice Park Association was drawn at W.D. Courtice Park. The prize was $600 worth of free cleaning by Molly Maid and it went to Jim Crosbie. Tickets went for $Leach or five for $4, and about 1000 were sold. The money raised will be used for soccer and baseball equipment and costs. Seen here at the draw are Jim Osborne in the back row; Lila Fice, Kevin Fice, Chris Fice, Andrew Kurianowicz and Rita Cain from Molly Maid in the middle row; and Andrew Osborne, Stephen Fice and Amie Kurianowicz in the front. HUPP B 1 N G O 7 21 45 52 72 4 17 FREE 46 69 1 29 40 60 75 B 1 N G 0 7 21 45 52 72 4 17 FREE 46 69 1 29 40 60 75 LADY LUCK BINGO 77 KING STREET EAST BOWMANVILLE 623-3447 Bowmanville - IT'S HERE! HIGH PRIZE BINGO YOU DON'T HAVE TO LEAVE TOWN FOR Wednesday, Thursday, Friday support your local service clubs ALL 75# FORMAT Ten $ 130, 00 regular games $ 1250. 00 jackpot must go Plus many more prizes and chances to win. $ 3500, 00 in total prizes Game Time 6:30 p.m. LOWER PRICES -- HIGHER PRIZES International and Flawing Match Farm Machinery Shew September 16-20,1986 Stirling, Hastings County 100 miles east of Toronto, north of Belleville. It's a family affair!