History of Icken the man and his models Photos included

O Scale Trains magazine

Found on the web.  http://www.tcawestern.org/icken.htm   There was also an article in one of the model railroad publications back in the 1970 or 1980 time frame, O Scale News or something like that? I have one of his PRR E6s models.

Thanks for the link.  TCA Western really needs to start including photo credits.

Ebay currently has this issue listed of O Scale News with the Fred Icken article.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/392259436463

hello all Fred Icken was happy making gliders in New Jersey then about 1927 he started making trains O scale was just becoming a thing advertising in model maker the early models were rather basic but a 1929 he joined forces with Baker and the quality exponentially increased and the drive system pushed his models to the Forefront of reliability and wonderful running models here is an example of his first double gear reduction please see link

https://youtu.be/3ofe_0S_agw

one of the most popular engines was the Pennsylvania K4 here are two examples built by Icken Barker 1930 &1931

https://youtu.be/S8ONqT9Fk9k

Has model making increased in detail and performance Icken  who led the pack building the most reliable trouble free running locomotives they cost a lot of money but they would run miles upon miles not scale miles real miles 8-10 hours a day for months on end heavily used in all the large public exhibitions in the 1930s.

Icken  continue building  until the early 50s then would specialize on rebuilding other models adding his Drive for improve performance.

here's an example of a mid-1930s Pennsylvania K4 built and 17/64 scale an incredible Runner and beautifully done. This engine will be running for hundreds of years proper care.

https://youtu.be/46v4FRmsqBE

Carey

I knew you'd come through!

Mark in Oregon

Many thanks for all of this information.  I'll be on the lookout for that issue of O Scale News.

Here is Fred Icken at the 1939 Model Train Manufacters show in NYC .

Again, thanks for all of this information regarding this gentleman and his models.

Here are some photos of a locomotive I purchased recently with his nameplate on the side of the smokebox.  This is a highly detailed model!  Look at the air pumps that are mounted on the smokebox front.....they are hinged and can swing outwards.

Wow...very nice indeed.

I thought Icken's stuff was built for outside 3rd rail; yet I don't see a pick up shoe...in any case, it's a beautiful model.

Mark in (wet) Oregon

Hi Mark,

I forgot to add that this is a 2 rail model.  And it runs beautifully!

It is a work of art.  It has obviously been re-detailed within the last half-century, since a lot of those lost wax fittings were not available when Fred was building.

Hi Bob,

That's what I was thinking.  Way too much added detail for a model that was built over 60 years ago.  But I'm a big fan of C&O steam and this version of a C&O 4-6-2 has never been offered by any builder. 

A shot of the underside would be great, since the Iken drive is so unique. Its truly a very nice model.     cTr...( Choose the Right )

hello all nice engine here are some Fred Ickens. Fred like many of the other modelers capture the essence  of the engine not all of minut detail.  Fred with a custom builder so he would build to the customers pocketbook

Fred built in quarter inch scale also 17/64 ths pant 1/2 inch.

Fred's earlier models are quite basic what started adding more detail as a customer's demanded it. Fred try to go mainstream offering the electric diesel but  never found a huge audience. Fred's prices were just Out Of Reach for the average person.

Fred's pieces are incredible runners

Holy cow...      

Thanks for posting those; don't wanna sound greedy, but "more please"! 

Mark in (wet) Oregon