J & L Randall
Encyclopedia
J & L Randall Ltd was a British toy manufacturer, based in Potters Bar
, which was in Middlesex
until 1965 and then in Hertfordshire
. The company flourished in the 1950s and 1960s and placed regular advertisements in Meccano Magazine
. It was one of the main competitors to Mamod
for models of stationary steam engines.
The company used two trading names:
An interesting product was the SEL "Dynamotor". This was a simple two-pole, permanent magnet
, machine which could be run as a motor
(using 4-6 volt
s from a dry battery
) or used as a dynamo
. It is believed that the term "signalling equipment" originally related to items such as Morse keys
and sounders
.
In 1978 the company was bought by Letraset
for 12.5 million pounds.
The company no longer exists but some of the products, especially the steam engines have become collectors' items.
Potters Bar
Potters Bar is a town in the Hertsmere borough of Hertfordshire, England, located north of Central London. In 2001 it had a population of 21,618....
, which was in Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
until 1965 and then in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
. The company flourished in the 1950s and 1960s and placed regular advertisements in Meccano Magazine
Meccano Magazine
Meccano Magazine was an English monthly hobby magazine published by Meccano Ltd between 1916 and 1963, and by other publishers between 1963 and 1981. The magazine was initially created for Meccano builders, but it soon became a general hobby magazine aimed at "boys of all ages"...
. It was one of the main competitors to Mamod
Mamod
The Mamod company is a British toy manufacturer specializing in building live steam models. The company was founded in 1937 in Birmingham in the British midlands by Geoffrey Malins. The name is a contraction of Malins Models'. The first models produced were of stationary steam engines, the company...
for models of stationary steam engines.
The company used two trading names:
- Merit for general toys
- SEL (Signalling Equipment Ltd) for technical toys, e.g. electric motors, steam engines and student microscopeStudent microscopeA Student microscope is a low power, durable optical microscope typically sold in bulk for use in school science classes. Although university science students use microscopes, the term typically refers to the type of instrument used in primary and secondary schools...
s
An interesting product was the SEL "Dynamotor". This was a simple two-pole, permanent magnet
Magnet
A magnet is a material or object that produces a magnetic field. This magnetic field is invisible but is responsible for the most notable property of a magnet: a force that pulls on other ferromagnetic materials, such as iron, and attracts or repels other magnets.A permanent magnet is an object...
, machine which could be run as a motor
Electric motor
An electric motor converts electrical energy into mechanical energy.Most electric motors operate through the interaction of magnetic fields and current-carrying conductors to generate force...
(using 4-6 volt
Volt
The volt is the SI derived unit for electric potential, electric potential difference, and electromotive force. The volt is named in honor of the Italian physicist Alessandro Volta , who invented the voltaic pile, possibly the first chemical battery.- Definition :A single volt is defined as the...
s from a dry battery
Dry Cell
-Dry Cell's formation:Part of the band formed in 1998 when guitarist Danny Hartwell and drummer Brandon Brown met at the Ratt Show on the Sunset Strip. They later met up with then-vocalist Judd Gruenbaum. The original name of the band was "Beyond Control"....
) or used as a dynamo
Electrical generator
In electricity generation, an electric generator is a device that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy. A generator forces electric charge to flow through an external electrical circuit. It is analogous to a water pump, which causes water to flow...
. It is believed that the term "signalling equipment" originally related to items such as Morse keys
Telegraph key
Telegraph key is a general term for any switching device used primarily to send Morse code. Similar keys are used for all forms of manual telegraphy, such as in electrical telegraph and radio telegraphy.- Types of keys :...
and sounders
Telegraph sounder
A telegraph sounder is a device which produces an audible sound when connected to an operating electrical telegraph.It is similar in form to a relay....
.
In 1978 the company was bought by Letraset
Letraset
Letraset is a company based in the Kingsnorth Industrial Estate in Ashford, Kent, UK.It is known mainly for manufacturing sheets of artwork elements which can be transferred to artwork being prepared. The name Letraset was often used to refer generically to sheets of dry transferrable lettering of...
for 12.5 million pounds.
The company no longer exists but some of the products, especially the steam engines have become collectors' items.