The Meccano factory closed in the 1970s

The photo was part of a collection of toy memorabilia rescued from the Hornby factory in Liverpool in the 1970s.

Lots including vintage toys, old adverts and instruction manuals made more than �35,000 at auction.

The photograph was bought on behalf of the museum for �4,100, at the auction in Rugby, Warwickshire, on Saturday.

A museum spokesman said: "This is a very historic item that we had to ensure went back to Liverpool where Frank Hornby had his factory and where hundreds of Liverpudlians were employed."

Vectis, the auction house which has been selling Hornby Trains, Meccano and Dinky toys at its monthly sales for the past few years, held today's event at The Benn Hall in Rugby.