Model Structures was a small company in Santa Cruz, Ca owned by Ralph Kann...producing outstanding wood, press cardboard, kits and ready built buildings , portals, and trestles in O scale (1/4") . First ad appearing 1938 ...Rolin Lobaugh gave them a plug in his catalogs ..... 1939 Treasure Island fair in SF ..Model Structures supplied many buildings for several of the layouts on display. Model Structures catalog #1 ( undated) ..but roughly 1940 is rich with many track side buildings ...many styled after the SP .... humble track side waiting shed to a 12 stall roundhouse to die for . Most of the buildings were offered in red brick or yellow frame siding varieties. A small box of bits and a sheet of vague directions and you are off on an adventure of gluing and cutting for many evenings .........or spend the big bucks to buy one of the buildings all built ..( it is worth the investment..go for it ) . Model Structure buildings in the built up fashion were relatively expensive .... built up coal tower in 1940 $80.00... and after the war one was listed used for 100.... so they seem to have had their value at the time.
After the war Model Structures continued with the same line .... postwar sales fall off ....Kann selling out to All Nation about 1952/3 window ....
All Nation carried the Model Structure bridges and portals in the catalogs for many years ...selling off old stock..All Nation sold the line to Right-Away .....Right-Away sold the line to a private individual who likes Model Structures .
Gaze at all the best layouts from the late 30s' , 40's and 50's ...you'll be able to spot a Model Structures building in key locations .
I've been very fortunate to be able to purchase some of the buildings ( always looking for more ) ....the pieces all have that classic 40's look ..and fit right in with late steam and vary early diesels.
Cheers Carey
