Thomas and Percy — Miniatures and Money Boxes
Wade produced two distinct forms in the mid-1980s: a pair of miniature trains and a pair of money boxes. The miniatures are small but full of character, measuring about 1⅛ inches high and 1½ inches long. Thomas is finished in his familiar blue, while his friend Percy appears in bright green; both are hand-finished and glazed in the classic Wade style. The money boxes were larger, with a coin slot at the top and a removable stopper underneath, and were sold individually through toy and gift retailers.
A Short-Lived Licensed Range
Wade’s collaboration with the Thomas brand was brief, ending around the mid-1980s due to complex licensing and copyright arrangements. Only two official models were released—Thomas and Percy—in both miniature and money-box formats. A prototype of The Fat Controller (Sir Topham Hatt) is known to exist, but it never entered production. The limited scope of the range and its short run make authentic Wade Thomas pieces comparatively scarce today.
Thomas in His Engine Shed — Limited Edition Money Box
One of the most impressive later releases is the Wade / Thomas The Tank Engine – Thomas In His Engine Shed limited edition money box. This piece depicts Thomas resting proudly in his brick-red engine shed, rendered in colourful hand-painted ceramic detail. Standing approximately 9.5cm high, the model was produced in a limited edition of only 500 pieces and released in 2001 by C & S Collectables under licence from Gullane (Thomas) Limited.
The World of Thomas the Tank Engine
Thomas the Tank Engine grew from the Railway Series books begun in 1945 by Rev. Wilbert Awdry, later continued by his son Christopher. Thomas—cheeky, optimistic and eager to be “really useful”—became the breakout character after appearing in the second book, Thomas the Tank Engine (1946). His friend Percy, the small green engine, is enthusiastic, sometimes impulsive, and devoted to helping on the Island of Sodor. The stories, set among steam engines and their human companions, emphasise friendship, cooperation and perseverance.
In 1984, the books were adapted into the stop-motion television series Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends, initially narrated by Ringo Starr in the UK (and later by George Carlin in the US). The show’s success sparked a wave of merchandise—models, toys and ceramics—of which Wade’s early licensed pieces are among the most collectible.
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