Postman Pat Kiddie Rides

**Postman Pat** is one of the long-running British TV shows that aired on the BBC. First broadcast on 16th September 1981 with two specials broadcasted in 1991 for its 10th Anniversary, the second series was broadcast in 1996. There was a reboot that was co-produced with Cosgrove-Hall and Entertainment Rights that ran from 2003-2006 on CBeebies. There was Special Delivery Service (Postman Pat SDS) which ran from 2008-2017. Some kiddie rides from that show were made. The first was by OMC and Kidzstuff from 1991 until 1997, then by R.G. Mitchell from 1999, then by Fun2Learn from 2006 until 2008, and then by Amutec from 2008 until 2011. A few units of the post van (PAT 1) was sighted outside a few Post Offices.

## OMC Electronics Ltd

### Van

History of the ride: The year was 1991. OMC Electronics decided to enter the Kiddie Ride business. They wanted to do the ride out of a popular children's TV show, Postman Pat after signing the licensing deal with Woodland Animations Ltd. Norman Lever done the electronics. Arthur Combe done the mechanics. And Tony Brookes done the body pattern. They finished the prototype (although the prototype is lost media right now and no. it's not the one with the door as you see on Mr. Bean The Live Action Series) and sighted it at a play centre in Gloucester. Unfortunately, The ride was unsuccessful and the idea for manufacturing kiddie rides was almost scrapped. This caused OMC to be in financial trouble and decided to do a second attempt of manufacturing the ride. During the process, Improvements are made. One of them being the coin box (at the bottom of the base) is now larger so it won't get overfilled so quickly. Then after that, the ride now became from failure to success! The first 5 units were sold in December 1991. Then in 1992, 450 units were sold! It quickly became one of the most successful British-made ride of the early 1990s! But as time progresses, the ride will then become hard to find. This is due of the operator who has the unit converting them into a drivable mini van, scrapping them, or being put into storage for a long time. Right now, you can still find it. But it is not as common as it's used to be and also impossible to find a fully working Postman Pat ride!

License: Woodland Animations Ltd.

Design: The ride is based from Pat's van. (PAT 1) Only the front and back indicators light up, but the ride has no back lights. Pat is in the van driving (like he usually would) with a coin slot placed next to him. next to Pat is Jess the cat. The speaker is placed next to Jess's ears. The 3 Buttons are placed on the dashboard inside the van from left to right, Jess, horn and start. Next to the start button is a credit display, which believe it or not is useful. it tells you how many rides you have bought or are remaining. If it reaches 0, start no longer works. The child sits next to pat in a yellow seat.

Seater: 1

Year of release: 1991

Other releases: Norway, Denmark and Netherlands

Start sound: Engine startup

Audio track: Postman Pat ending or opening

Attract sound (if enabled): Horn then Engine startup

Trivia: Jess's meow is oddly, Rosa's meow from Fireman Sam. The horn sound will later be recycled.

#### Buttons

START button: Well, It just starts the ride

Horn button: PAT 1 Van honks the horn

Jess button: Jess meows

#### Controller Timers/Kiddie Ride Boards

PMP Control Board (1991-1993)

ROSie (1993-1997)

#### Versions

V1 (1991): It uses PMP Control Board and it has no messages (Because the PMP Control Board never had the messages programmed)

V2 (1993): it has messages because it's using A ROSie V2 Board.

### Interactive

In addition, despite not being a kiddie ride, OMC also made an extremely rare and very impossible-to-find standalone version of the post van with an interactive touchscreen incorporating a game called *Postman Pat's Paint Pot*. These exist as well and also rare to find.

### Mini

History of the ride: Due to the success of the van, OMC decided to manufacture a different variation of the Postman Pat ride. But for whatever reason, they only made 16 of them. Probably due to not many operators buying the unit and they're happy with the van. Or the company lost the license.

License: Woodland Animations Ltd.

Design: The ride is based from a postbag. The rider sits on a red post sack next to Pat and Jess. The buttons along with the credit display and coin slot are placed on the parcel that Pat's holding. The speaker is placed on the left side of the postbag. Only 24 units were produced.

Seater: 1

Year of release: 1994

Other releases: None

Faults: Unknown

Start sound: Unknown

Audio track: Postman Pat ending (opening theme on the ROSie board)

Attract sound (if enabled): Unknown

Trivia: This is the only rarest Postman Pat ride to find. The sound effects are respectively do the same meow SFX as PAT 1 but the new SFX is Pat saying, "Jess? Jess?" from Postman Pat and the Toy Soldiers. This ride featured a few parts supplied by Photo-Me which includes the Stamar timer and Photo-Me's R.B. Interface (ROSie Board Interface).

#### Buttons

START button: Well, It just starts the ride

"JESS!" button: Pat saying "Jess? Jess?"

Jess button: Jess meows

#### Controller Timers/Kiddie Ride Boards

PMP Control Board (1994-1995)

ROSie (1995)

#### Versions

V1 (1994): It uses PMP Control Board and it has no messages (Because the PMP Control Board never had the messages programmed)

## KidzStuff Fun & Games

History of the ride: After the purchase, KidzStuff refurbished a batch of OMC originals. But they also somehow manufactured their own version of it. But they didn't make much of them, due to R.G. Mitchell purchasing the ride design.

License: Woodland Animations Ltd.

Design: The ride is almost identical to the original OMC models. The only difference is that the bumpers on the van are shaped differently.

Seater: 1

Year of release: 1997

Other releases: Australia and Oceania

Faults: Unknown

Start sound: Engine Startup

Audio track: Postman Pat opening

Attract sound (if enabled): Horn then Engine startup.

Trivia: The KidzStuff version is rare to find nowadays

#### Buttons

START button: Well, It just starts the ride

Horn button: PAT 1 honks the horn

Jess button: Jess meows

#### Versions

V3 (1997): It uses a ROSie V3/V4 Board and the messages say "KidzStuff" and their phone number.

## R.G. Mitchell

History of the ride: R.G. Mitchell acquired the rights to Postman Pat in 1997, and made the new improved version of the ride at the ATEI in January 1998.

License: Woodland Animations Ltd.

Design: The ride is similar to the OMC version. Differences are: new lights, new timer, a Rolling Road display, and a new base with smooth forward-back motion. the R.G. Mitchell version still has 3 buttons except that the 2 are now square and one is red, while the other is blue.

Seater: 1

Year of release: 1998

Other releases: Denmark

Faults: None

Start sound: Engine Startup

Audio track: Postman Pat ending

Attract sound (if enabled): 1st Lyrics of the Postman Pat theme song

Trivia:

#### Buttons

START button: Well, It just starts the ride

Horn button: PAT 1 Van honks the horn (honks only once now)

Jess button: Jess meows

#### Controller Timers/Kiddie Ride Boards

PCM-002 (1998-2000)

BOT-1 (2000-200?)

#### Versions

V1 (1998): The ride has Mrs Mitchell messages.

V2 (1999): The audio is now low pitched.

V3 (2000): The ride now has new messages.

## Fun2Learn Children's Rides

History of the ride: Fun2Learn decided to make their own version of the Postman Pat ride. During the time, only the new series was airing on TV, so that's what they went to. In the early days, they not only designed but manufactured the ride.

License: Entertainment Rights PLC.

Design: Just like the other 3, The ride is based on Pat's van. Now, there's a new dashboard. that says "Delivery time with Postman Pat" with 2 letter buttons. It has a green Start button and their coin slot used on most Fun2Learn rides. It also has a large square button used for honking the horn. And there's parcels behind Pat. It seems like Fun2Learn released the ride after R.G. Mitchell stopped making them.

Year of release: 2006

Other releases: Denmark

Faults: Buttons doesn't work except the start button.

Audio track: Postman Pat Series 3-5 instrumental

Attract sound (if enabled): None

Trivia: Fun2Learn also made an extremely rare version of this ride exists that doubles as a vending machine, similar to that of three Jolly Roger vending rides (listed in alphabetical order): the Astro-Vend Carousel (2017), Vending Fun Bus (2008), and the Vending Van (2007). Fun2Learn also made a Postman Pat-themed vending machine which resembles a postbox, which can be found at arcades such as Bermuda Park/Carousel Amusements, Hemsby.

#### Buttons

START button: Well, it just starts the ride. (Original or Yellow rectangle)

Jeff Pringle button: "This letter might be important!"

Ted Glen button: "Last delivery of the day!"

Horn button: Car horn

#### Versions

V1 (2006): After starting the ride, it plays the instrumental theme song and it has lots of voices you can hear. such as "Morning Reverand Timms! A parcel for you!" "Morning!" "What a grand day "Jess!" "Last delivery of the day!" and "This letter might be important!" you can even hear those voices when you're not pressing any buttons. oddly, when the ride stops, Pat will say "This letter might be important!"

## Northern Leisure Group

History of the ride: After the purchase, Northern Leisure continued manufacturing the ride. When Northern Leisure started manufacturing the ride, the base said manufactured by Northern Leisure but still sold in the Fun2Learn name. Then they decided to remove the Fun2Learn name completely and swap it to Kiddy Rides.

License: Entertainment Rights PLC.

Design: The ride is identical to the original version. The only difference is they took off the parcels picture from the van.

Year of release: 2007

Other releases: Denmark

Faults: Buttons doesn't work except the start button.

Audio track: Postman Pat Series 3-5 Theme

Attract sound (if enabled): None

Trivia: The Northern Leisure units are very common.

#### Buttons

START (Original or Yellow rectangle) button: Well, it just starts the ride.

Jeff Pringle button: "This letter might be important!"

Ted Glen button: "Last delivery of the day!"

Horn button: Car horn or doesn't exist.

#### Versions

V2 (2007): It still has the normal Fun2Learn's green Start button, It now has a different coin slot. Comestero RM5 coin mech. it still has the "Delivery time with Postman Pat" dashboard with 2 letter buttons and it even still has the large horn button. The audio track is different too. because now it plays the engine starting up first then it plays the normal Series 3-5 Theme with vocals and the song will fade out when the song is about to finish. the end message is now fixed so it has the normal Fun2Learn's "Have another ride, soon!" message when the ride stops. And on the back, it still has the Fun2Learn logo, but the bottom of the ride has a sticker saying it's manufactured by Northern Leisure.

V3 (2008): The horn button is gone and the yellow Start button takes its place where the horn button used to be. and as for the coin slot, it's still in its same place but there's no button anywhere near the coin slot. The Fun2Learn logo was replaced with Northern Leisure's "Kiddy Rides" logo.

## Amutec

### Big

History of the ride: When the new show "Special Delivery Service" came out, Amutec decided to manufacture the helicopter from the show. It's unknown if the ride was successful or not.

License: Entertainment Rights PLC.

Design: The ride is based on Pat's helicopter (PAT 3) The Pat figure is placed in the helicopter while he's waving. Jess is placed in the front of the helicopter. The ride has a coin door with a start button placed on the right of the coin door. The joystick is placed on the right of the dashboard. The yellow button is placed on the left of the dashboard, next to the coin door. The ride for some reason has 2 speaker grills. one on the bottom left of the dashboard, and one next to Pat's head.

Seater: 1

Year of release: 2008

Other releases: None

Faults: None

Audio track: SDS Theme

Attract sound (if enabled): None

Trivia: Amutec's first Entertainment Rights-licensed ride was actually Little Red Tractor released in 2007, the SDS Helicopter was their second one.

#### Buttons

START button: Well, it just starts the ride.

Yellow button: "The Special Delivery Service always gets through!"

Joystick: Helicopter Sounds

#### Versions

V1 (2008): Plays the extended Special Delivery Service theme song.

### Mini

History of the ride: Amutec also wanted to make the smaller version of the ride, in case if the operators can't afford the big one.

License: Entertainment Rights

Design: Pat is nowhere to be seen but instead, the window now has a picture of Pat with the words "I fly this!". And it has a normal Amutec base used on most of their rides. And it has the same buttons and joystick.

Seater: 1

Year of release: 2008

Other releases: None

Faults: None

Audio track: SDS Theme

Attract sound (if enabled): None

Trivia: This is the final officially released Postman Pat ride for the UK.

#### Buttons

START button: Well, it just starts the ride.

Yellow button: "The Special Delivery Service always gets through!"

Joystick: Helicopter Sounds

#### Versions

V1 (2008): Plays the extended Special Delivery Service theme song.

## Other releases/variants

OMC Electronics

* A rare version called Mike the Milkman exists.
* A rather rare version called Dennis The Driver exists
* According to a few YouTube videos, Photo-Me versions exist with the Stamar board and R.B. Interface, which feature the extended soundtrack theme performed by the late Ken Barrie (1933-2016).
* An OMC Version makes an appearance in the 9th episode of Mr.Bean, titled "Mind The Baby, Mr.Bean". This model has got a few modifications: A door, and a coin slot outside of the van.
* In the late 1990s or some time in the 2000s, Northern Leisure distributed several models of the post van.
	+ Oddly enough, most of them are low-pitched. Although A High Pitched One Was Spotted At Royal Family Amusements In Margate. And Normal Pitch ones were found at Funshack in Seaham and Blaismare Amusements In Symonds Yat.
		- It may be because the Northern Leisure re-programmed batch (along with Fireman Sam) usually have high pitched attract mode, but low pitched music while the ride is in motion.
* Northern Leisure also modified some models with different number plates and OMC V2's Flat Headlights, but still retained the ending theme.
* V1 models with a 2.0. OMC Base Exist, one has been sighted at Treasure Island in Hemsby.
* Some Northern Leisure modded ones feature a number plate from the Fun2Learn version.
* A high pitched model was spotted at Lytham St Anne's Pier, various other high pitched ones have also been spotted.
* A low-pitched one was spotted at an unknown charity shop, various other low-pitched ones have also been spotted.
* Some OMC Postman Pat Kiddie Rides with faulty PMP and ROSie boards have been spotted. An OMC Postman Pat with faulty ROSie board was spotted at Symonds Yat, in which the horn sound plays over and over due to a worn out microswitch. Click here.
* An OMC Model with a Whittaker Brothers base apparently exists.
* An OMC Postman Pat supplied by Both Photo-Me and Northern Leisure has been spotted at Houghton Regis Snakes & Ladders.
* OMC Postman Pats (PAT 1) with an anti-clockwise movement have been spotted.
* On a German Website called Kinderplanet, a yellow painted OMC Postman Pat van with different Coin slot, DHL Logo, and a blue EMT base can be found.
* On The Same Website, a modified green one (Similar to the infamous "Garfield Van Ride") can be found
* Also a normal Postman Pat with different lights, an EMT Base and a side sticker of the Kinderplanet.de logo.
* At the Gatwick airport, an OMC Postman Pat with rectangular Headlights was found.
* In Glasgow, an OMC Postman Pat with rectangle indicators was found
* At some Places, like Las Vegas Amusements, Hemsby, Walton Pier and Kino Amusements, Walton, OMC Postman Pat Kiddie rides without headlights have been spotted.
* Some units, have their headlights bolted down, to prevent them from breaking off.
* At Las Vegas Amusements In Hemsby, an OMC V1 Postman Pat With a Green Start Button, Yellow Horn Button and Blue Jess Button was spotted, but these three buttons were originally from fruit machines.
* An OMC Postman Pat Kiddie ride with a windscreen and a Window was spotted at Postman Pat's village, Longleat.
* TAJ The Arcade Junkie (Back in the day 44) refurbished, modified and refitted one OMC Postman Pat with R.G. Mitchell Puppy Scooter's audio on the Soundmaster timer.
* Pat Is Often Missing His Eyes And/Or Glasses.
* Some models are missing at least one/both headlights.
* Some units, have their headlights bolted down, to prevent them from breaking off.
* At Barry Island Sea Front, an OMC Postman Pat with Pat having a red mouth has been spotted before it got withdrawn and replaced with a V2 Fun2Learn Postman Pat with worn out button.
* TAJ The Arcade Junkie (Back in the day 44) was refurbished The Mini Version had V2/V3 OMC Postman Pat Audio.
* The units with different shaped bumpers is the KidzStuff unit.

R.G. Mitchell

* At places like Tesco Extra Shrewsbury, original units of the post van (PAT 1) with yellow number plates on both the front and back bumpers were spotted. Some of these units with the original yellow number plates are a bit rare to find.
* On the earliest V1 models, Pat's eyes have a sclera and a pupil, while on the other ones, Pat has only black dots as his Eyes.
* A Version With No Number Plate Also Exists
* Versions with BOT1 boards exist. They can be found at places such as Tesco Edenthorpe, Tesco Perth, Wimbledon Café,Tesco Yiewsley and Tesco bury.
* In KL Gateway, a model with rectangular indicators was spotted. Just Like The OMC One In Glasgow. Plus, it's got a yellow number plate.
* There is a R.G. Mitchell version sighted and spotted at The Lido in Worthing that has a Stamar timer, with the extended theme like the Photo-Me version, and the sound effects are the same horn sound as a few JR (AR) rides and Pilchard's meow, which is exactly the same as the Jolly Roger (Amusement Rides) Bob the Builder rides (normally Scoop).
* Low Pitched V1's exist, a low pitched white number plate one was spotted at a fair in Great Yarmouth, a low pitched yellow number plate one was spotted at Tesco Extra Shewsbury.
* A model with a reversed motor was spotted at a shop in Colwyn Bay over 10 years ago.
* Pat Is often missing his eyes and/or glasses.
* At a Toys 4U store in the U.S., an RGM Pat with no eyes was spotted

Fun2Learn

* Exclusive to Denmark, there are F2L Postmand Per kiddie rides.
* Years ago at Henry Danter Amusements Barry, there was a rare original release of the Fun2Learn Postman Pat ride. after it was filmed, the ride then was gone, either put into storage or sold to someone else.

Amutec

* The mini SDS Helicopter with the rare "There is a hardware error" message has been spotted.

## Interesting Facts

* This was the first ever Kiddie ride made by OMC Electronics.
* The OMC Postman Pat Appeared in the Still Game Episode Courtin.
* Just Like some of the OMC Electronics rides, Postman Pat is one of their rides that uses a Coin Controls C220 coin acceptor.
	+ The same one can be found on some Rides made by Copy Right Rides, Bafco of Alford, Amutec of Mablethorpe and later Fun2Learn.
* Perry Watkins converted an OMC Postman Pat into the world's smallest car in 2009.
	+ Similarity, a rare version of the OMC V1 Postman Pat Kiddie ride with a green start button was converted into a dragster in 2012. It can go near 100mph.
		- They made another one of the same mould.
* The Models with the ending theme have thick headlights at the front, while the opening theme ones have flat headlights.
	+ Oddly enough, At St. Anne's Pier, Killingworth Shopping Centre, Great Yarmouth Merrivale Old Penny Arcade and Talk of the Town Nightclub in Herne Bay and in Hastings, an OMC Postman Pat with the ending theme with flat headlights was spotted.
* OMC Postman Pat Used to be one of the most common Coin Operated Kiddie rides in UK Until Around 2015/2016.

## Gallery

### Main

OMC Electronics (Mind the Baby, Mr. Bean 1993)OMC Electronics 1991Postman Pat's Paint Pot(1990s)OMC Mini (1994)OMC Mini (Tan) (1994)RG Mitchell (Silver Licence Plate) (1997)RG Mitchell (1997)RG Mitchell (No Licence Plate) (1997)Fun2Learn (2006)Amutec (2008)Amutec Mini (2008)
### Miscellaneous

The modified and repainted blue Dennis the Driver (Kidzstuff, 1997)Dennis the Driver (Kidzstuff, 1997)The Rectange Headlights Version Of The OMC Postman Pat (1991?)Another Version Of OMC Postman Pat With Rectangular Headlights (1991?)OMC Postman Pat With No Headlights (1991?)The Strange Square Lights RGM Version (1997?)The Yellow painted OMC Postman Pat with DHL logo and EMT base.The Green OMC Postman Pat which is almost identical to the Repainted Blue One.The Strange OMC Sticker Version (1991?)