I'm writing a book about Madison Hardware (Updated 5/3/16)

This sounds like an exciting project.  Having visited Madison Hardware in NYC as a kid, it's always held a special place in my heart.

Stu

I will definitely buy the book

Look at our Man-now competing with Stephen King!

This is an exciting project for you and hope it opens other doors.  Congrats.  Can't wait to see it.

BTW, not sure I'll make Friday or not.

Look forward to the book.

Totally in on this. Good luck.

Count me in....I was FDNY in the neighborhood for 32 years,i knew them well,got a lot of great deals...i was also there when they had the fire in the building.....joe

Joe, 

Would love to chat with you about what you remember about the fire. Please drop me a line and we can talk.

No detail is too insignificant about this project. Trying to cover as much ground and get as many stories as we can. 

I look forward to the book's publishing.  The closest I ever came to Madison Hardware was when I bought a NIB Lionel #53 Rio Grande snowplow (with the correct "a"!) by mail order from them in 1972.  But I've read so much about them over the years that I'd love to see an entire book about them.

I never had the good fortune to visit Madison hardware so this publication will allow me to enter its doors.  I will be looking forward to its release.

I never got to madison, so it's a no brainer for ,e. I want a copy! Fantastic idea.

This sounds cool.

Neat idea.  It should be a great book!

I would love to buy a copy of this book. I visited Madison Hardware a few times when going to Toy Fair in the late 70's. Please let me know if you are going to make this book for sale to train stores.

Thanks

Pat

PATRICK'S TRAINS

I do remember going to Dick Kughn's Detroit Warehouse, on Jefferson Ave. I do have CRS.

Can't Remember Stuff, but you enter the building on the first floor, after being buzzed in. There was a small lobby and on the right hand wall was the large Madison Hardware Sign, "ON" - Took what looked like a freight elevator to the 4th floor.

     There was all the stuff in bins, for the customers to walk around. Made this trip several times in the early 90's. It seems like his layout was also in this building and a nearby building, but time can mix this up.

     Looking forward to the book, with all the new photos, not yet seen.

Cheers from Michigan

Gary

I also never made to see the original store in NYC.  However I did get to Richard Kughn's version in Detroit,twice.  I would be very interested in a copy of this book.

Paul Edgar

I'd buy it.  I am fascinated with the business side of the toy train hobby and I am sure a book about the Shaw/Shur brothers would be a winner.  1600 photos?  Yes, please.

Looking forward to the book. First trip was in 1963. Last trip was January 1987. We were at NYU hospital for a followup visit for our 4 week old daughter. I said we were in the neighborhood, lets stop at Madison. I don't remember which brother was which, Moustache, blue dress pants, blue pinstripe shirt and suspenders..looked the same 24 years earlier. He came over and said that this may have been the youngest customer ever. Next trip to 23rd it was all over

rat

Madison Hardware was a fascinating store. Having grown up in Brooklyn I was there many times with my dad in the late 50's, early 60's and when I got back into trains in the late 70's. Lou and Carl were two interesting characters. If Lionel ever made it they sold it (and probably had it stashed away) but if Lionel didn't make it, the Scrooge brothers just sold repro and repainted stuff and past them off as originals. To them it was only about the money. Would still like to read a book about the place though.

There are some interesting dynamics that made Madison Hardware what is was. I'm going to try and capture all angles. Some good and some that could be considered not so good. 

I should mention that I have about 1400 photos to choose from. Many of them will not make the book. I don't think people want to see photos of empty shelves and ceiling panels. I should also mention that does not included any photos of Detroit or photos from additional sources. So there will be plenty to see and read in the book. 

Thanks all for the kind words. Thee is a long road ahead, but I believe it is 100% worth it. 

Yes please on the "warts and all" version.

 I don't think people want to see photos of empty shelves and ceiling panels.

I disagree...I think the ones of empty shelves SHOULD be included...kinda marking the end of an era.

Never had the pleasure of walking into the store but the book sounds great! 

There was a fellow poster here for a little while who was related to the brothers, and knew something of the store. Maybe he will contact you.

I'm looking forward to this. I visited Madison in 1982,What a place! Lou and Carl were rude and cantankerous at first, but warmed up when they realized I wasn't a "looky loo" as I gave them a lengthy list of parts I needed and tried to pay up front.Whilst picking up the order a few days later,I presented them a bottle of Wild Turkey as a token of appreciation as suggested by a friend who was close to the brothers. Sadly,I never made it back there for a second visit.

csb

quote:

If Lionel ever made it they sold it (and probably had it stashed away) but if Lionel didn't make it, the Scrooge brothers just sold repro and repainted stuff and past them off as originals. To them it was only about the money.

I suppose they should have given everything away at cost.
Do you think the folks making importing Lionel Trains are in the business for anything other than to make money?

I was in Madison Hardware (NYC) many times. Enough to get to know Carl and Lou a bit. They told me when something that captured my interest was a reproduction or repaint. I witnessed enough and was told enough to appreciate their viewpoint on "customer relations"

I dealt with them on occasion,being a relatively poor teenager, I couldn't buy a lot, but when I needed parts and such, they always treated me well, if giving me a hard time for the long hair I had back then (I would agree to wear it that long again, if I had the hair to grow out *lol*). 

Having been there and watching them deal with customers, I kind of suspected that the reproductions as original and such was saved for the customer they seemed to not like very much, the type of person who was obviously into post war trains because at the time, they were a 'hot collectible', when prices were going nuts. I know that when I asked about items, they would tell me which were original and which were redone or built by them out of parts, and I occasionally saw them try to sell the same thing to one of the get rich quick types as original, of course (they especially seemed to dislike guys coming in in suits, they seemed to think they were all lawyers, and I heard them tell lawyer jokes out loud when someone in a suit came in).

Hopefully the 1600 photos include candid shots of Carl and Lou, wonder if any of them have to be censored for rude gestures at people asking stupid questions

I'd probably buy the book, it sounds like a great deal of fun to read the full story. 

Derek...It was great talking to you...A lot of memories came back about Carl & Lou...If you were up front with them and no BS you got treated well,I know...best to you with the book...Joe

Joe, 

I just was going to get on here and thank you for your contribution. We had a nice chat and you provided some interesting information about the fire and you opened up some new items for me to explore. Thanks again for the time and your insight! 

This sounds really cool. Great project and looking forward to the book!

I think Mr. Navy has expressed one of the most important things about this book and that is keeping Madison Hardware alive. It's amazing to think that the New York store has been gone twenty six years in July. We're loosing those connections quickly, and I hope by writing this that it will give train collectors an idea of just how interesting Madison was. I would be interested in knowing if places that have the aura of Madison exist in other hobbies.

A few quick updates:

Great response to our requests for stories and interviews so far. We have conducted two in the past few days with more scheduled this week. Thank you to EVERYONE who has responded so far. Keep it coming!

Currently researching Shur family history and history of the building located at 105 East 23rd street. The nice thing about writing a book like this is that I can jump around researching subjects. Keeps things fresh right now. 

Here is our Facebook page, we will post frequent updates there, but big news we will continue to post here. 

Click for The Madison Hardware Story on Facebook

Another EXCELLENT interview last night. Third generation Madison Hardware customer. So many good stories coming in and we would love to hear more. Email me at Madisonhardwarebook@gmail.com and let's talk! 

In the late 70's and early 80's I was building my two NYC layouts using the trains I had as a kid in Oregon. These had been stored and shipped around the country as we moved from Oregon to New Jersey to North Carolina to Florida. When I got married, my dad sent them to us in NYC as a wedding present. The arrival of my own kids prompted the interest in layout building. 

I needed some some repairs and got pointed to Madison Hardware. I was in there six or seven times with no clue as to what it was. To me, it was just this weird store that did repairs and had lots of interesting things hanging on the walls. 

It it took a long time for me to emerge from my PW world. TMCC had been out for a while when I saw it for the first time. I was floored. 

Sounds great!  If I recall correctly, one of the key people involved in the move OF MH to Detroit is also featured in the TM video as one of the builders of the Lionel layout in Chesterfield, MI.  

Best wishes with this excellent project.

Great!  Count me as another buyer.

We lived in Queens in the late 50s and my father worked at the Federal Reserve Bank downtown.  My 1st Lionel Xmas set was 1956 - what a grand surprise for a kid!   I remember many exciting visits to the store after that.  Such a great place.

Joe, 

Were you out of Engine 14 on 18th Street? I think they would be first due engine  to 105 east 23rd street. Not sure which truck is first, maybe 3 Truck or Ladder 7? The fire at Madison was a can job, hardly think it was out the windows on arrival since those old commercial buildings were sprinklered for the most part. Not 100% though, I was not there. Just summing it up from the few that had knowledge of it. Stay Safe and enjoy retirement.

Mike