Betty Bashall

of 9 Queens Drive, Thames Ditton, Surrey. Telephone: Emberbrook 1391

In the period leading up to World War II, Betty Bashall started a factory, manufacturing and selling wooden toys

She was a talented designer and engineer and built up a successful business designing and manufacturing toys at her factory in Thames Ditton, near Kingston upon Thames. In her day, she was on par with names such as Chad Valley and Tri-ang.

When WWII broke out, her talents were directed away from toys, and towards manufacturing parts for the mostly wooden Mosquito aircraft.

At the end of the war she sold the factory, and designed and built her own Motor Yacht. The boat, called Mellona was a 65'.5"L x 14'6"W x 5'6"D and designed to sail anywhere in the world. It was built in the yard behind the factory.

Once the boat was finished, the factory site was sold and Betty's ambition to sail through France came true when she took Mellona through the French inland waterways to the Mediterranean. At the time It's believed that Mellona was the largest vessel to have been sailed the whole route through the French canals. She chose Majorca as her stopping point, where she retired and spent the rest of her days.

1947 Listed Exhibitor - British Industries Fair. Manufacturers of Distinctive Wooden Toys, Nursery and Garden Furniture. Range includes Original Barrows, Trucks, Sea-side Novelties, Sandpits, Spring Horses, Tool Benches, Doll's Furniture and Miniature Toys suitable for Gift Shops. (Olympia, 3rd Floor, Stand No. K.2403)

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