International Model Products questions...

Thanks for the reply.

Like you, I have noticed O-scale 2 or 3 rail brass locomotives made/marketed by IMP in the past and I'm curious about their history.  

I wonder if they advertised IMP products in vintage model railroad magazines?  Whatever happened to IMP?

Thanks, Steve

Cincinnati

 A Brass Locomotive Checklist 1949-1975 by Ladd Publications,Inc 1977 list Internal Model O Products

Stick with Max Gray/USH for older brass.  You will not regret it.  The International Challenger was one of their better pieces, but most were flimsoid. Opinion.

The International Models products are indeed pretty basic.   As I understand it, they were one of the first importers.  

The detail is very basic and the mechanism are crude compared to newer brass.    The worst part was the ones I have seen have no bearings in the frame for the axles to run in.   There were just holes drilled in the frame. 

The Motor worm directly on an axle gear type mechanism that was in all I have seen, is very similar to a lot of 3 rail locos produced today.   most newer brass has a gear box and reduction gearing.   

So the advice to avoid them is sound.   However, if you know what you are getting and the price is right, go for it.   

Ads for International Models, Inc. products, HO and O, appear in Model Railroader Magazine between 1950-58.

The research desk at the Kalmbach Memorial Library might be able to provide more info regarding the company history.

I found out from "Old Goat" on this forum that IMP brass offerings were apparently  marketed by a company named "International Models, Inc." which may have been one of the first brass model importers into the USA during the mid 1950s.

According to Uncle Dave's Brass website, (<cite class="vurls">www.uncledavesbrass.com/help-impmfr.html</cite>&lrm it seems that International Models, Inc. existed as a company from 1950 - 62.  However, some OGR forum members think International Models advertised in Model Railroader from 1950-58.

A quick search of "International Models" on the Internet shows the company offered mostly HO brass and some O-scale brass. 

I was able to find 2 mentions of International Model catalogs for O-scale products at a Asian website (<cite class="vurls">tplibrary.seesaa.net/category/14645625-1.html</cite>&lrm that requires text translation from Japanese to English.  There may be pics of some IMP finished products also available on this website. However, the publish date and full contents of these catalogs is not available online.  The catalog listings are...

One IM catalogue lists the following:

12 pages with covers, US price .10
O Scale List
SP Atlantic 4-4-2 .00 (photo)
South Shore Electric 85-ton .50 (photo)
Pacific 4-6-2 .50 (photo)
B&O Dockside 0-4-0T .50 (photo)
UP Caboose 3500 Series .00 (drawing)
RDG Steel Caboose .00 (drawing)

A second catalogue shows:

28 pages with covers, US price .25
O Scale List
UP Challenger 4-6-6-4 5.00 (prototype photo)
SP Atlantic 4-4-2 .00, Completely Finished---.50(photo)
South Shore Electric 85-ton .00 (photo)
Mikado 2-8-2 .50, Completely Finished---.00 (photo)
B&O Dockside 0-4-0T .00 (photo)
UP Caboose 3500 Series .50 (drawing)
RDG Steel Caboose .50 (drawing)

I wonder if any OGR members may have these or other International Models catalogues that could be posted?

Regards, Steve

Cincinnati

Here are a couple of the International Models ads selected at random from "Model Railroader" magazine (Dec 1949 and Jan 1951).

The clips are taken from the Kalmbach Model Railroader Archive disks. I would strongly recommend these disks to anyone with an interest in the early manufacturers and importers in our hobby. The ads and product reviews (Trade Topics) from these magazines offer a wealth of easily-searchable historical information.

Jim

One of the International Models imports was the South Shore steeplecab.Body was brass and not too bad but the drive was to ay the least Horrible.I replaced it with a Wagner 8 wheel steeplecab drive and ran it. Looked decent after I took off uniquely South Shore features and repainted it.A little oversized for a Class B B/W but used it even after Bill Flatt came out with more accurate B s

I used to see some of this at shows, and have picked up the two cabooses and

other cars, intending to detail, paint, upgrade, and three rail them.  They are squirreled away somewhere.  I have seen a few of the engines, such as the dockside, over time, but never bought any of them.  I think I've seen the Pacific, but always wanted a freight engine, so passed.  At that time, some years ago, if I'd seen the Mikado, I might have jumped on it.   I have not seen any of it at shows in some time..

maybe it shows up in brass categories on the Bay, but I don't usually search that.

I've got several of the steeple cabs to re-build and re-power - drive unit was as Bill notes.

I've also got several of those smaller boxcabs to also re-build and re-power - similar drives systems.  Several of the ones I have are also marked "Made in Occupied Japan" and some are marked KTM.  There were also several larger boxcabs as well - have at least 3 different other ones.

Good raw materials for lots of quality fun in the shop!

Over on da'Bay, there are 3 box cars titled as International Model Products.

ChipR

By today's standards IMP rolling stock loosely followed prototype practice, were sparsely detailed, and poorly assembled.  IMO they are several notches below similar prototype MG/USH models, far below PSC, and miles below Pac Limited and Yoder.  Thirty years ago when my model railroading budget was  tight and IMP cars could be had for $50 below similar models from MG/USH I up-detailed an IMP 10k gallon tank car with full brake rigging. I don't regret doing it but today I'd rather spend my modeling time on a project that would yield a more distinctive/prototypically correct model. 

Ed Rappe

All very interesting - I have worked on these things, and can tell you they are not worth working on.  The dome from the Pacific or Atlantic is useful, but the rest is recyclable.

Now you can watch IMP stuff go on eBay for more than Max Gray!  An IMP tank car went for $600 a few years ago, and last week a Max Gray MT-4 (a superb model!) went for under $500.

This is an interesting history lesson, but friends do not let friends waste money on junk.

As always- opinion.

Wow!  Somebody paid $600 for an IMP car?  I think I bought a couple for $20 each.

There is some feeling of crudeness about them...maybe it is in the trucks and the

way they roll?  At one time, I did display them, because they were "brass".