The story of Geoffrey Bowman Jenkins and some of his wonderful inventions and products

by Colin Laker

An all colour fully illustrated standard work

The second of two books on the subject written and researched by Colin Laker with help from the Bowman Jenkins family.

296 A4 pages stitched and bound with a laminated paper cover with over 385 photographs and illustrations
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Book 2 continues the journey to the present day. The cigarette company gift schemes were of great importance to Geoffrey Bowman Jenkins and this is dealt with in the first chapter. The 1930‘s saw the decline of Bowman steam toy production and the rapid expansion of the Jentique furniture business under the umbrella of Jenkins Production Ltd. The venture ran into trouble with Geoffrey Bowman Jenkins losing the business in 1936 in unsatisfactory circumstances. The inception of ‘Metamec’ under the direction of Bernard Smart is noted.

Without Bowman Models manufacturing toy steam engines for Hobbies of Dereham, the door was left open for a Geoffrey Malins to offer his services and this saw the birth of the world famous make of Mamod steam engines. After recovering from a nervous breakdown, Geoffrey Bowman Jenkins became his old self again and went on to manufacture wooden fire screens and also small mobile toys made from Pyruma cement in Moorgate House, Dereham. The toys proved so successful that he was propelled into the super tax league.

Circumstances take us to the devastating consequences of the Baedeker air raids on Norwich during the Second World War and the effect it had on the Jenkins family. In later years Geoffrey Bowman Jenkins moved to Ridlington where for a brief time he became a chicken farmer. Losing their lustre, these soon made way for the famous Ridlington Racing Yacht venture. All 35 yacht classes hereto not documented are featured and this should prove a valuable resource for the vintage pond yacht enthusiast.

Geoffrey Bowman Jenkins died in 1959 with the business succeeded by his son Max who also introduced kites and windbreaks to the product range. Towards the end, the work includes a large Vignette section which gives first hand accounts from various Norfolk folk associated with the story and concludes with ‘In Celebration of Bowman’ followed by a collection of maps and aerial photographs.

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