Wilesco

{{Short description|German toy company}}

{{Infobox company

| name = Wilhelm Schröder GmbH & Co. KG (Wilesco)

| logo = Wilesco logo.png

| logo_size = 180px

| caption =

| type = GmbH & Co. KG

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| foundation = 1912{{Cite book|title=Toy Steam Accessories|first=Marcus|last=Rooks|year=2008|isbn=978-0-7478-0313-3|page=31}}

| founder = Wilhelm Schröder
Ernst Wortmann

| defunct =

| location_city = Lüdenscheid

| location_country = Germany

| location =

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| area_served = Worldwide

| key_people = Philip Schröder (CEO){{Cite web|url=https://www.wilesco.de/impressum|title = Impressum | Wilesco}}

| industry = Toys and metal goods

| products = Mainly toy steam engines and accessories

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| homepage = [https://www.wilesco.de/ wilesco.de]

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}}

Wilesco is the trade name of German toy company Wilhelm Schröder GmbH & Co. KG, known for manufacturing live steam toys such as steamrollers, traction engines, stationary steam engines, and numerous accessories such as countershafts and drive models.

Initially a producer of aluminium forks and spoons, the company expanded into miniature aluminium accessories for doll's tea parties in the 1920s. This decision also helped the company weather the economic crisis of the late 1920s and early 1930s because these toys were also exported to the US.{{Cite web|url=http://www.quirao.com/en/a/wilesco-fabrication-machines-a-vapeur-miniature-locomotive-auto.htm|title = Wilesco}}

In 1950, Wilesco started manufacturing miniature steam engines.{{Cite book|first=Florian|last=Langenscheidt|title=Deutsche Standards: Marken des Jahrhunderts|isbn=3-409-12443-8|page=542|year=2006}} In 1966, the D36 "Old Smokey" steamroller was introduced which has been popular among collectors and continues to be produced.{{cite web|url=https://www.wilesco-shop.com/mobile-steam-engines/steamroller-old-smoky.html |title=Old Smoky D365 Model red/green |access-date=2023-10-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121103243/https://www.wilesco-shop.com/mobile-steam-engines/steamroller-old-smoky.html|archive-date=2021-01-21}}

The company also manufactures various accessories for their steam engines such as electrical generators, steam workshops and fairground rides.{{cite web|url=https://www.wilesco-shop.com/drive-models|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116144221/https://www.wilesco-shop.com/drive-models|archive-date=2021-01-16|access-date=2023-10-14|title=Drive models for steam engines}} While most of their steam engine models are heated by esbit, electrical heating is also available.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wilesco-shop.de/|title=Dampfmaschinen online kaufen|website=Wilesco Shop}} Steam-powered toy locomotives (G scale) and an open wagon were also available from Wilesco for a while.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ministeam.com/page_not_found|title=Ministeam: The Great Toy Steam Company - Wilesco Mamod Jensen Steam Enignes|website=www.ministeam.com}}

The company still manufactures a range of plastic and aluminium scoops and hooks, as well as steam toys.

Wilesco's main rival is the British-based steam model manufacturer: Mamod. Mamod and Wilesco produce similar models, at similar prices and size range. In August 2024, Mamod closed.