Birmingham Dribblers emerged when the 19th century’s second half found people enchanted with technology, particularly with the new popularity of the trains and the railway system. Toy makers knew that creating train representations for consumers would bring in the money.
Many didn’t look much like a true locomotive, but they were still quite popular. Although many of the designs were powered by manual pushing, a very desirable option was that which was steam powered.
It was in the 1880s that steam-powered trains became very popular. These trains were quite similar, with most having a chassis with four wheels that was able to support a boiler that would supply steam to oscillating cylinders. The rear wheels, which were often larger than those in the front, were powered by pistons.
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Using the steam-powered train was simple. Water was to be poured in the boiler, and then the train was to be placed on a gas ring or the stove. Once the water boiled, the train was removed, the safety valve was lifted, and it was ready to move about on the floor.
These trains were given the name ‘dribblers’ because they usually left a wet trail behind them as they moved. ‘Birmingham’ was added to the name because that was the city in which they were made in Britain.
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