New book out by Keith Wills "American O Scale" 1927-1965 ( A Brief History of the companies, people and products) published by White River Productions. $19.95
Keith Wills has written for Railroad Model Craftsman with his column Collectors Consist 1982-2014, has penned a very nice but "Brief" history of O Scale.
Keith has done an excellent job pulling facts about the real world economy , other influences , and distractions most important when conveying the history of any subject. Keith is very knowledgeable pulling many of the obscure O scale players and giving them a voice. The history begins in the mid twenties with the economy booming, leisure time and money to take former boyhood tinplate train enthusiasts to the flange world of realism and scale. Ride the train to the depths of the depression, only to receive a huge shot of adrenaline for the fledgling hobby with corporate O scale miniature railroads seen by millions at the Chicago Century of Progress. Learn how the newly formed NMRA in 1935 settled the 1/4" vs 17/64th" and outside 3rd rail vs 2 rail debates ( at least on paper). Learn about the big boys of the tubular rail and deep flanges ( Lionel & American Flyer) throwing their weight around pushing into the "scale scene" forever changing the look of tinplate "toy" trains.
Keith brings in the little gauges and how they nip at the heels of O scale and ultimately win the sales race with the masses.
The little book is packed with lots of information but I wanted more. The book is illustrated with primarily manufactures catalog pages / ads but with a lack of any captions to the illustrations ! As a history book one would like to know what year catalog is being shown , and the reader is left guessing what illustration goes with which manufacturer.
The book is laid out with the rise and fall of the hobby : Pioneer Years, Dynamic Growth, Post War, and Decline ( covering engines only ) , the prewar and post war are covered again later with the rolling stock , so to get a history on one company, you need to search two locations in the book.
I'm old to the toy train world but new to the O scale world and was hungry for knowledge on the history of the various O scale manufactures and how they influenced the overall direction of toy/ model train world. The book is a great reference but leaves one hungry for more.
Well worth the price to have a guide to the early O scale world .... but I'd be happy to have paid double for double the information.
Thank you
Carey Williams
