Lionel 3 rail OO 1938-41

Great post!

I don't think that Lionel's idiosyncratic choices would have mattered as much had WWII not intervened and had the company opportunity to add to the line.  They followed that same path when introducing Standard Gauge, and they were a dominant force, making other makers conform to their choices.  Something like that could have happened in OO given more time.  OO may not have become Number 1, but it might have become more influential.

Thanks for sharing Carey. I had not seen Lionel's OO scale Hudson before. However, I believe the e-unit in my prewar O-gauge steam switchers is an OO-scale creation that is also used with this Hudson.

Tom

The questions about changing tastes in model train gauge preference in the late 1930's are interesting.  Starting in 1936 Model Railroader ran an annual reader poll about the hobby and one of the questions was that of gauge preference.

Year            O gauge      HO gauge    OO gauge   Misc

1936           58%              36%             3.1%            2.9%      - Sample size was 433 - in the notes MR noted the low OO count and made the comment that they thought the number would have been higher if many of the OO gauge modelers with whom they were acquainted had voted (remember back then the model railroad community was VERY small).   

1937           50%              33.9%         10.6%          5.5%   - Note: couldn't find the sample size

1938           48.6%           36.5%         10.3%          4.6%   - Note: couldn't find the sample size    

1938           61.6%           29.9%           5.8%          2.7%  - This was an independent survey apparently commissioned by representatives of the model railroad industry - no sample size given but it is probably reasonable to assume it was a larger sample than that of the Model Railroader Magazine.

1939           40.5%           39.3%          16.9%         3.3% - Note: couldn't find the sample size

1940           38.3%           46.3%          13.6%         1.8% - Sample size was 819     

  The MR sample was a self-selected convenience sample and there are well known caveats concerning samples of this type.  It would be nice to think the independent survey was more sophisticated but in 1938 a lot of what we take for granted with respect to sampling methods today was either not yet known or was only recognized in the world of academia.

  What is evident is the gradual decline of the appeal of O gauge and the gross difference with respect to HO vs OO.  One could argue the jump between the MR OO poll count between 1938 and 1939 might have been the result of Lionel's efforts but the bigger question is why Lionel would have gone after a gauge which, according to the findings of a key publication in the industry, had not mounted a serious challenge to its main competitor - HO.  At this late date I'm sure it is a question that will remain unanswered.

  Please note - I'm not trying to start a fight or make this the O gauge statistics forum - I just thought you might like to see what information was available to the world of model trains during the time Lionel decided to take the plunge into OO gauge.

Addendum: While the numbers that follow couldn't have any connection with Lionel's decision concerning OO gauge back in 1938 it is interesting to see the trend - all are Model Railroader annual statistics - no sample sizes provided. 

Year            O gauge      HO gauge    OO gauge   Misc

1941           38.9%              45.6%           14.8%      .7%

1942            31.4%             53.5%           13.6%     1.5%

1943            37.7%             48.9%           12%        1.4%

Bob- Very interesting.

Robert,

  Interesting numbers. I'm surprised OO was as high as they were "back in the day."

  You said there should not be a fight. However, I think we should start an O-scale war on the HO folks and use our missile launchers, radioactive cars, military sets, etc.

Then, take the survey!

Tom

Josh Cowan was highly influenced by the New York Society of model engineers which had a oo layout.

Hence his interest in going after that gauge

It was a simple matter of math in 1938 which gauge was going to win.

you could buy the Lionel oo Hudson for $25 or you could buy the American Flyer Hudson 3 cars Loop of track for $25 all in HO  that's right...price wins .

Beyond American Flyer you had Gordon Varney and Taylor &  Thomas at Mantua who were all very shrewd businessman and carefully worked the market to have HO Race ahead of the other gauges.

1940 Mantua introduces thier 040 switcher ...10,000 are sold 1st year ... with numbers like that O scale did not stand a chance oo was still in the gate and Tin Plate O  gauge was about to meet its match .

Cheers Carey

I think it was eventually Varney who hired the late, great John Allen to do some of their back covers of magazines like Model Railroader (maybe in the 1950's I think).

Thanks for posting another unique locomotive.

Tom

a few links to my OO layout

lionel oo 2013 - YouTube

1938 Lionel OO Layout - YouTube