Just had the opportunity to bring a 1937(?) Hudson back to life. Outside 3rd rail-how neat is that.
Can anyone provide some information about the company? I know the locomotive, which is beautiful and weighs a ton, was 17/64"
Thanks in advance.
Don
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Unfortunately, they move queries like this to the 2-rail forum.
I cannot give you much background on the company - Lee B Green comes to mind. Min-I-Scale and Mi-Loco seem to have been related. In my opinion, O Scale should have been 17/64. Even Lionel knew that in 1939.
I have two Min-I-Scale Hudsons Im working on, one is two rail and the other is three rail, love them they were a head of there time. The three rail one has been converted to inside third rail. I will convert it back, to two rail. Its worth testing the drivers sometimes even thou three rail they are still insulated. It doesn't make a difference to the conversion, except for three rail points. The tires on mine have been re-machined wider for three rail use, unfortunately, people get confused and don't realise there not 1/4 scale and replace the rods and trucks with 1/4 scale ones, and things don't work!! Or maybe its to better get around sharper curves ( trucks anyway ) The frame on this one has unfortunately been machined to facilitate exactly that. The Model Railroad Craftsman ran some great Model Railroad history articles, and Min-i-Scale was the subject of at least one of these articles, I cant find it as yet Ill let you know if I find it. cTr...(Choose the Right)
Hello Stephen
Very nice Hudson . Did you find which Model Railroad Craftsman magazine had the article about Min-I-Scale ?
Thank you .
Carey Williams
Neat. I've never heard of them. What scale are they actually, or are they just compressed? I'd like to find a 2 rail version.
Hello
per the ads found with in Popular Science Dec 1937 - Nov 1938 listed as O gauge 17/64" scale
Looking for a 3 rail version of the Min-I- Scale or 3 rail Scale-Craft Hudson
was there also a MI - Loco O scale Hudson made in the 30's ?
If any one has one of these engines can they run on Lionel T rail ?
Thank you
Carey Williams
About half of both are 3-rail only.
Two rail versions have the same flanges, and can operate on Gargraves at least, with proper pickups and wiring.
These things are relatively crude, and appeal mostly to collectors. If you want a nice Hudson for 3- rail, MTH and Lionel spring to mind. Williams has a 773 that is surely better than the MiniScale. The Mi-Loco models are slightly more crude, with cast iron frames and aluminum superstructure.
17/64 is the proper scale for O gauge, and is far from compressed - it is slightly larger.
bob2 posted:About half of both are 3-rail only.
Two rail versions have the same flanges, and can operate on Gargraves at least, with proper pickups and wiring.
These things are relatively crude, and appeal mostly to collectors. If you want a nice Hudson for 3- rail, MTH and Lionel spring to mind. Williams has a 773 that is surely better than the MiniScale. The Mi-Loco models are slightly more crude, with cast iron frames and aluminum superstructure.
17/64 is the proper scale for O gauge, and is far from compressed - it is slightly larger.
That extra 1/64 th makes a big difference, at one time I believe 80' pullmans [die cast] were offered and they were 21 1/4 " long compared to the 20" for 1/4" scale models plus the corresponding height and width differences.
Thank you for your comments about "better" Hudson's. My goal is more a look and feel of the 70 year old engine running . I really like the look of a Scale- Craft Hudson with it's over large headlight .
Speaking of old Hudson engines ..are there any Birch engines still out there ? Any photos ? Here is an ad from 1933
Thank you Carey Williams
Never heard of it. Scale Craft is a better bet than the others - easier to find, and easier to get into good shape. The sand dome is wrong, but fixable, and the tender rivet detail is uneven. If you are "seeking", then $2-300 will get you a good one, especially if un-insulated is ok. If you just wait until one drops into your lap, $150 will do it. I have one of each Scale Craft locomotive, and three extra K4s.
I have had a MinI Scale hudson drift through here, and have rebuilt a Mi-Loco K5, which is more or less dark green last time I saw it, but actually has some Tuscan under that. Very primitive; ran like a watch.
Thank you for your comments . Has anyone seen a Birch Hudson ? they seem to be the earliest advertised American company producing an electric O gauge NYC Hudson in 1933. Also attached MI Loco ad from 1935 .
If any Scale-Craft , Birch, MI -Loco, or Mini-Scale Hudson's are for sale out there I'd be interested , prefer 3 rail versions .
Thank you
Carey Williams
Hello all
Does anyone know who George B Hines was ? These photos are currently on ebay ...taken 1948 from a Detroit news source . Can anyone identify the O scale trains being made ?
Thank you Carey Williams
Yes! These come up on ebay from time to time, there's an 0-8-0 right now currently for about $250.00, though If you had been quicker you could have had it for $125.00 painted. cTr...( Choose the Right )
Neat photos, thanks, looks like an 0-8-0, along with an 2-8-2, hanging from the ceiling
Hello Stephen did you find the Model Railroad Craftsman with the Min-I-Loco article ? which issue ?
Thank you Carey
Searching the internet I found this bio about Mi Loco and Min- I -Scale .
Lee B Green was an inventor in the auto industry and was granted many patents
Min-I-Scale marketed just two heavy weight passenger car models, a coach-combine and this12 section sleeper.
His name was Lee B. Green and he was a Cleveland area model railroader with a dream of creating exquisite scale models for the then burgeoning O Scale market. During the mid 1930's he found the capital to launch a line of 17/64 O Scale diecast trains that he marketed under the name of "MI-LOCO" (The Miniature Locomotive Company). To build these trains he contracted with Congress Tool & Die of Detroit, a company well known for doing casting and stamping work for the auto industry. After successfully completing a New York Central Hudson and PRR K5, he ran into financial difficulties selling his trains, in part due to competition from similar trains offered by both LIONEL and Scale Craft. In 1937 Green liquidated his train business even as he was about to market two very impressive heavy weight Pullman cars. Congress, probably his biggest creditor, took over the line and began marketing Green's trains themselves under the name "MIN-I-SCALE." But they, too, discovered that this was not an easy market to penetrate and wrapped up their train sales by the end of 1938. That's a thumbnail of MI-LOCO and MIN-I-SCALE.
The classic heavyweight Pullman up for auction is a handsome and rugged rendition of the prototype that Congress boasted in their advertising "had "more than 3,200 rivets" (see photo of November 1938 advertisement in MR). It appears to be complete and in excellent condition - especially considering that it was made about 75 years ago.
Cheers Carey
Carey Searched and searched for that article and couldn't find it. cTr...( Choose the Right )
Stephen thank you for checking ...I ordered the new book " American O scale 1927-1965 written by Keith Willis who wrote for Railroad Model Craftsman... so perhaps the Mi-loco / Mini-Scale story ( and more ) will be found within the pages .
Are your Mi Loco Hudson's ...marked in any way ? If so where would they be stamped / or labeled ?
I was the high bidder on the recent engine on ebay ... listed as Mi Loco ...( wrong tender)... the engine looks like yours but the under side has a covered gear where as your is exposed ( cut off for 3 rail ? ) .
Oh my this is a heavy engine ... I'm a big fan of the white wall tires and red windows ... that period look ...
Does anyone out there have a spare Mi-loco or Min- Scale tender available ?
Are the Min- Scale engines marked ? Are there any differences between a Mi-loco and Min-Scale engine ?
Any idea what this tender goes to ?
Thank you for your help
Carey
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