MAX GRAY KTM 4-4-0

I don't know how long that loco was in production, but Max Grey was around for quite awhile.   I think somewhere in the 60s max sold out to Levon Kemolyan (Kemtron) and he renamed the company US Hobbies.    That lasted I think into the early 80s and I think Levon died.    Westside Models, a competitor bought the contracts/business and kept it alive a few more years at best then folded.    So you probably have a 30 year history.

The models such as your William Mason imported where not made continuously.   The company would make a "run" of some number and import them and sell them.   So at any given time, the product available varied quite a bit.   

both MG and USH did import an extensive line of freight cars but no passenger cars that I have seen.   the cars came unpainted and without trucks and couplers.    Decals and trucks were sold separately.    They only did about a half dozen diesel models over the years but a very extensive range of steam loco models.   If a model sold well, multiple runs were made.

Due to some tariff laws, the locos came in modules and required a little screwdriver assembly.    Generally the boiler superstructure was one unit, the mechanism another, and the weight had to be installed.    the tender trucks also had to be installed.   

In their day, the MG and USH were considered the top of the line brass imports.   the models still stand up well today, but are not as well detailed as more recent imports.   However they are very sturdy compared to recent imports.

A final note, I was told that MG and USH had an exclusive contract with KTM to build the models.   during that era, KTM built only for MG and then for USH.   KTM was considered the best Japanese builder.

prrjim,

Thank you for the excellent information.  I own a couple of USH models and was uncertain of the 'history' time line.

Great stuff.

There are some paperback publications entitled "May Gray Spotters Guides" which give extensive information about MG locomotives and cars. Bill Davis at American O Scale used to have them for sale at 2 rail shows. May want to google American O Scale in Wisconsin to see if he still has any.

Many thanks guys for the interesting information.  I will follow up on the American O Scale lead.

lewrail

Actually, Max Gray died in the mid '60s (65 I believe).  Levon was in the process of partnering up with Max.  Levon had a partner in USH.  His name was Robert Speidel.  Mr. Speidel was from Visalia, CA.  He moved to the Santa Clara area to be able to work closely with Mr. Gray.  Tragically, Robert drowned in 1966.  Levon & Robert actually stared USH back in the '50s but USH didn't start importing until right after Mr. Gray's death.

There were 5 models already in the pipeline (or on the water, as we say today).  The models were a D&RGW L-131, a UP 2-80-, an Erie Pacific, a PRR Atlantic and a NYC J1e.  When sold they came in boxes with a USH logo unlike future version but the locos themselves were MG.

There's a lot more to the story but I have things to do.

How do I know these things?  I have documentation and I know the Speidel family.

Jay

From what I have seen and read in the "Max Gray Spotters Guides", many of the same models were imported by both companies.   A few that I am pretty sure were only MG are the William Mason, PRR 4-4-0 D16 (actually built by Toby), and the PRR N1 2-10-2.   Some I know were done in more than one run and imported by both were the PRR 4-4-2, 4-6-2, 2-8-2, 2-10-0, 0-8-0, and 4-8-2.   I also have seen the NYC 4-8-4 and NKP 2-8-4 from both.   I think some of diesels such as the GP-35 and SD-9 were imported under both companies.  

Generally speaking and I am sure there are exceptions, the USH stuff had better details and often upgraded sprung mechanisms.   The MG locos generally had rubber pads for springing.   the USH also had better motors.   I have the 0-8-0 from both the mechanisms are quite different and the main drive gear is on a different axle.   On the USH the motor is moved forward and hidden in the smokebox.   In the MG it is in the cab.    The MG locos I have seen generally have turnings for such items as the generator and various valves and such.   On the USH locos generally these things have been upgraded to lost wax castings.    All that is not so much the different companies as it is the improvement and upgrades to the hobby in general over those years.