First and foremost, anyone with an interest in any of the products issued by Astra-Pharos is recommended to purchase The Toys of Astra-Pharos, by David J Booth. ISBN 978 0 9556361 0 3
Astra Pharos were manufacturers of numerous other (non toy) products, from just after WWI until January 1975. Toy production began in the early 1930s, and continued until the tooling was sold in the mid 1950s. The toys included garages and harbours, traffic lights and railway signals as well as a significant range of military weapons and searchlights, together with military railway vehicles.
The military range was introduced in 1937, and included a gun on railway wagon. The chassis is shared by models 11 and 20, and the gun below had a barrell 3.5 inches long, which propelled a wooden shell by means of a firing mechanism and cap. Initial models were painted khaki, changing to dark green in late 1938.
Astra-Pharos Model number 11, 'Searchlight on 0 Gauge Railway Truck', khaki |
Astra-Pharos Model number 11, 'Searchlight on 0 Gauge Railway Truck', khaki |
Astra-Pharos Model number 11, 'Searchlight on 0 Gauge Railway Truck', khaki |
Astra-Pharos Model number 11, 'Searchlight on 0 Gauge Railway Truck', khaki |
Astra-Pharos Model number 11, 'Searchlight on 0 Gauge Railway Truck', khaki |
Astra-Pharos Model number 11, 'Searchlight on 0 Gauge Railway Truck', khaki |
Astra-Pharos Model number 11, 'Searchlight on 0 Gauge Railway Truck', green |
Astra-Pharos Model number 11, 'Searchlight on 0 Gauge Railway Truck', green |
Astra-Pharos Model number 11, 'Searchlight on 0 Gauge Railway Truck', green |
Astra-Pharos Model number 11, 'Searchlight on 0 Gauge Railway Truck', green |
Astra-Pharos Model number 11, 'Searchlight on 0 Gauge Railway Truck', green |
Astra-Pharos Model number 11, 'Searchlight on 0 Gauge Railway Truck', green |
The following model shows an enterprising owner's attempt to replace the battery with a roller pickup, to utilise power from the third (centre) rail . The pickup appears to be mounted on a thin strip of wood, to insulate the pickup from the truck chassis. Return would be via the four wheels.
Astra-Pharos Model number 11, 'Searchlight on 0 Gauge Railway Truck' |
Astra-Pharos Model number 20, 'Gun on 0 Gauge Railway Truck' |
Astra-Pharos Model number 20, 'Gun on 0 Gauge Railway Truck' |
Astra-Pharos Model number 20, 'Gun on 0 Gauge Railway Truck' |
Astra-Pharos Model number 20, 'Gun on 0 Gauge Railway Truck' |
Astra-Pharos Model number 20, 'Gun on 0 Gauge Railway Truck' |
Astra-Pharos Model number 20, 'Gun on 0 Gauge Railway Truck' |
Astra Pharos number 5 3.7 inch Anti Aircraft Gun |
Astra Pharos number 9 Mobile Anti Aircraft Gun |
Astra Pharos number 10 Mobile Searchlight |
Astra-Pharos number 12 Mobile Unit with cap powered mobile AA gun, and battery powered searchlight |
Astra-Pharos number 12 Mobile Unit with cap powered mobile AA gun, and battery powered searchlight |
Astra-Pharos number 12 Mobile Unit with cap powered mobile AA gun, and battery powered searchlight |
Astra-Pharos number 12 Mobile Unit with cap powered mobile AA gun, and battery powered searchlight |
Astra-Pharos number 12 Mobile Unit with cap powered mobile AA gun, and battery powered searchlight |
Astra-Pharos number 12 Mobile Unit with cap powered mobile AA gun, and battery powered searchlight |
Astra Pharos number 13 battery powered Super Searchlight |
Astra Pharos number 15 battery powered Round Base Searchlight |
Astra Pharos number 15 battery powered Round Base Searchlight |
Astra Pharos number 15 battery powered Round Base Searchlight |
Astra Pharos number 21 Fort Gun |
Astra Pharos number 23 Light Anti Aircraft Gun |
Astra Pharos number 24 Anti Tank Gun |
Astra Pharos number 25 Pom Pom (Oerlikon) Gun Base diameter 95mm, gun length 250mm, height 170mm |
Astra Pharos number 27 Rocket Gun |
Astra-Pharos number 15 Round Based battery powered Searchlight and number 23 Light Anti Aircraft gun |
Astra Pharos battery powered searchlight Base 185mm x 205mm, searchlight diameter 105mm, height 180mm |
Astra-Pharos AA battery powered three aspect electric signal |
Astra-Pharos battery powered two aspect electric signal |
Astra-Pharos battery powered two aspect electric signal |
Astra-Pharos two aspect electric signal |
Astra-Pharos two aspect electric signal |
Astra-Pharos two aspect electric signal |
Astra-Pharos two aspect miniature signal |
Astra-Pharos four aspect railway signal |
Astra-Pharos four aspect railway signal |
Astra-Pharos four aspect railway signal |
Astra-Pharos railway signals controlled by Astra-Pharos switches |
Astra-Pharos railway signals controlled by Astra-Pharos switches |
Astra-Pharos railway signals controlled by Astra-Pharos switches |
Astra-Pharos battery powered three aspect traffic signal |
Astra-Pharos battery powered three aspect traffic signal |
Astra-Pharos battery powered six light three aspect traffic signal |
Astra-Pharos battery powered six light three aspect traffic signal |
Astra-Pharos battery powered nine light three aspect traffic signals |
Astra-Pharos battery powered nine light three aspect traffic signals |
Astra-Pharos electrically illuminated Lighthouse |
Astra-Pharos electrically illuminated Lighthouse |
Astra-Pharos electrically illuminated Lighthouse |
Astra-Pharos Car Hoist, Meccano Magazine October 1952 |
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