| Lesney bait press |
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The bait press was a 55mm (2.2 inches) high gadget made for fishermen which was for compressing a block of bread into a solid piece that could be fixed to a fishing hook from which it would not come off so easily when wet. The rights to market the press were originally given to Milbournes a fishing tackle wholesaler and the press was marked as a "Lesney Milbro" product but after a year or so Lesney were not happy with the slow sales that Milbournes were generating so the name "Milbro" was removed from the press and it was offered to other wholesalers. The press can be painted red or red and green with a varying amount of unpainted metal. Although it was not actually a toy it is sought after by some collectors but to me personally I think it looks out of place in a cabinet of Lesney toys so it's not an item you will find in my collection. Besides Lesney did and still do make a wide variety of automotive components and I would not want those in my display cabinet either, The press was in production from 1954 to 1957. |
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Above: the early "Milbro" and later non milbro versions of the bait press photo courtesy George Marshall |
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collectable toy specialists. |
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collectable toy specialists. |
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collectable toy specialists. |
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collectable toy specialists. |
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collectable toy specialists. |
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