Toy built from scrap in 1937 gets new lease of life after being passed down to creator’s two-year-old great great grandson

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Toy built from scrap in 1937 gets new lease of life after being passed down to creator’s two-year-old great great grandson

July 19th, 2012

FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda

Car built using a bicycle saddle, pram wheels and a motorbike engine
Family appeal for help to get its engine running again

By
Daily Mail Reporter

PUBLISHED:

10:31 EST, 18 July 2012

|

UPDATED:

13:38 EST, 18 July 2012

Little Alfie Huggins sits on the toy car built by his great great grandfather from scrap metal 75 years ago – and his family are appealing for help to get the quirky motor running once again.

Mechanic William Huggins made the car in 1937 for his six-year-old son Arthur – Alfie’s great grandfather – using a bedstead for the chassis, a bicycle saddle for the driver’s seat, wheels from a pram and an engine from a motorbike.

Arthur and his friends had years of enjoyment driving the motor around the village of Skelton, North Yorks, but after the 1950s it was stored in the garden shed at the family home and forgotten about.

Two-year-old Alfie Huggins - pictured with his great grandmother Sheila Huggins - sits on a toy car built by his great great grandfather William Huggins from scrap metal in 1937

Two-year-old Alfie Huggins – pictured with his great grandmother Sheila Huggins – sits on a toy car built by his great great grandfather William Huggins from scrap metal in 1937

Mrs Huggins is appealing for help to get the engine running again

The car was partially renovated by Alfie's great grandfather Arthur before he died of cancer

The car was partially renovated by Alfie’s great grandfather Arthur before he died of cancer

After Arthur’s retirement, he decided to renovate the motor – but sadly died before he could finish the job, and his wife Sheila has called for help in completing the restoration of the quirky vehicle, including getting its engine running again.

Sheila, 74, who still lives in Skelton, explained that Arthur had been watching his father William fixing a car, when his father jokingly asked if he would like one of his own.

Arthur replied that he would, and his father said: ‘Right, I’ll get you one’.

Arthur and his friends played on the car even when they were teenagers, and it was used into the 1950s.

The car was driven up until the 1950s

Alfie's great great grandfather William Huggins with the car he built from scrap metal for his son Arthur in 1937

Alfie’s great great grandfather William Huggins with the car he built from scrap metal for his son Arthur in 1937

Arthur Huggins as a boy

Local newspaper report about the car William Huggins built for his son Arthur in 1937.

Alfie’s great grandfather Arthur Huggins (left) as a boy, and an archive local newspaper report about the car when it was first built

The motor even featured in the local press at the time, with William pictured with his creation.

Sheila’s great-grandson Alfie certainly enjoyed having a go on the little car this week – even without its engine working.

Sheila, grandmother of nine and a great-grandmother of six, explained: ‘When Arthur retired in 1997 he decided he wanted to get on with all the odd-jobs he hadn’t been able to do when he was busy at work.

Alfie's great great grandfather William Huggins' driving licence from 1909

Alfie’s great great grandfather William Huggins’ driving licence from 1909

‘The car was kept in the family shed for years, so it was rusty – the engine cover was rusty, and the engine no longer worked.

‘Unfortunately just three months after he retired he was diagnosed with leukaemia, but he still managed to tinker with the car on and off until he died three years ago.

‘He knocked a catering tin into shape to make a new engine cover.

‘It took him ages to fix the wheels because he wanted to find old-fashioned pram wheels like those used by his father William, but in the end he had to settle for modern pram wheels which look a bit out of place on the old car.

‘The only thing is, he died before he could get the engine running again, and I’d love to get it going, so I’m hoping someone will be able to help me.’

Proud Sheila added: ‘Alfie really enjoyed having a go on the car.

‘It’s lovely that 75 years down the line it’s still in the family and we’re all delighted it’s on the road again.

‘It’s a special time because Arthur died almost exactly three years ago and our 57th wedding anniversary would have been next week, so it all seems to have happened at the right time.’