Question for older NYC Collectors

Ave M and East 15st than to mcdonald ave current location for trainworld and trainland in lynbrook

I know island trains was on hylan blvd in staten island but not sure of their time frame there but they are gone now.

Island trains moved to New Jersey and changed their name. I see them at York in the Orange Hall.
Henry was always very good to me.

But I have not made a purchase from them in years because I haven't purchased any new or recently made trains in quite some time.

When, my wife and I were living in Brooklyn, from late 1970, to mid. 1973, Peter Bianco Sr. was the founder and owner of Trainworld, on Ave. M and E. 15th. St., in Brooklyn, N.Y.C., L.I., N.Y.

Then, we moved to backward Brooklyn, Lynbrook, L.I., N.Y. and Peter Jr. and his brother Ken Bianco bought Trainland, about late 1973, from the Mulraney Group: George and a woman partner who's name I forgot.

I know, Mr. P. Bianco Sr. had passed and I am not sure if, Peter Jr. Bianco owns Trainworld in Bk., or not. Where, as Ken Sr. and his son Ken Jr. own Trainland, in Lynbrook, now-a-days!

BUT, to add more confusion, with these Train names, there was, or still is a World of Trains in Queens, N.Y.C., L.I., N.Y. and I believe, somewhere in the Mid. West is another Trainland, unrelated to the Lynbrook,-Trainland! 

Ralph 

Wow.....you are really jogging my memory.

I have never been to Trainworld or Trainland, but I believe they are/were jointly owned.

Being a Bronx boy, when World of Trains was on Woodhaven Blvd (in Middle Village, Queens, I think), I used to visit when I was home.  I believe it eventually moved east to Metropolitan Ave and I lost track of it by the late 80's. I don't know what ever happened to it.

Peter

Pete, you are correct of the two locations and in that order, of World of Trains.

Ralph

In the mid to late 1960's Peter Bianco was selling used trains ( mostly postwar O ) out of his home in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn.  I don't recall if I ever bought anything from him, but I did visit his home once or twice to see what he had available.  As I recall, he was in the beauty shop/hair dressing business at the time, and it afforded him an unusual access to old toy trains.  Many of his patrons were older women whose children had grown up and left home.  Peter told me he would ask them whether they had old trains stored away, and if they did, he would offer to trade an imported wig for their trains.  Based on the amount of stuff he had around, a not insubstantial number of his clients cared more about their hairdos than their kids old trains.   

Nick:

Another very well known train store on Staten Island during the time frame you mentioned was SMC Model Railroad Center on Greenleaf Avenue. It was owned by a gentleman named Mr. Sal Marino. Perhaps that's the one you're thinking of. I used to enjoy going there myself.

Bob 

Mulraney, the founder of Trainland, in the early 1950's, of Lynbrook, L.I., N.Y.

Here is a colorized picture postcard of Mulraney's businesses: 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/US-N...-1950S-/301092184084

Ralph

Shows my mindset......I saw the title of the post and thought 'old New York Central'!!!!

Bob,

Do you remember, or heard of Habild, of New Dorp, or some spelling, as such?

In the early '70's, there was Habild's Hobby Store on the South side of New Dorp Lane, just East of Hyland Boulevard, in New Dorp, Staten Island, N.Y.C., N.Y.

Ralph

I think that World of Trains changed it's name and has gone into older trains and antiques but not sure. I just remember the gigantic poodle there.

Dave: You're not alone, so did I.

Bill

As a 9 or 10 year old at the time, I remember my uncle driving me twice with my cousin to see Bianco. Once was to the beauty parlor where they actually had a few trains in a low glass case by the front door and the second time to his home. At the house, the basement was set up like a small train show with trains on tables under dim incandescent lighting. My uncle was offended that we were not allowed thru the front door. He was old school for the time and never went to someone's house without expecting hospitality. We were directed to a side door. I had no money for trains on those trips, but my uncle bought my cousin a postwar NY Central F3.

  I was in the Cub Scouts back in the early 70's. I remember a bunch of us would ride out to Trainland on our bicycles from Bellerose ,Queens.

   There was a guy who worked there named Lou who was always smoking. He was great to talk with and gave us advice on our train layouts.

   When we saved up enough money from our paper routes we would go down to Trainland and buy something. Lou would give us the item in a big brown paper bag and throw us some used flatcars and track. He would also sell me new trains in the display case at discount prices.

   Thanks to the generosity of this man he kept me in the hobby when I was lucky to have 2 quarters to rub together.

Some of the nicest people shot there or shop there. Don

And those vandals wrecked some perfectly good trains with bullets and blood! They should be arrested!

Mike,

First off, most of the men, including George gave good discounts, BUT, you had to watch out for the lady owner, I think she inflated the prices!

Now, this fellow Lou, was he tall, slim and had dark hair and eyes, because if you agree, then Lou was a N.Y.C Fire Fighter and was very friendly and I asked him about the discount he gave to my wife and I and he said it was O.K. with George!!!!!

I didn't mind the discount, but I didn't want to get him in trouble and we did not want to have a tough time at Trainland, at anytime.

The owner George, this fellow I'm referring to, Lou, John, who had one place in Oceanside, L.I., N.Y., on Long Beach Rd. and moved to Rockville Centre, L.I., N.Y., and most other guys, were always good.

The Biancos are also, very accommodating, friendly, have good discounted prices and have a large selection of great old and new items.
Ralph

Mike,

Lou was probably working for Charlie, the Proprietor of Nassau Hobby, on Merrick Rd., in Freeport, L.I., N.Y.

The store was small, then Charlie moved to his present and larger location at 13-Merrick Rd., same village.  Charlie and his staff are also great people.

BUT, then again, there was another small, store on Merrick Rd. in the Village of Baldwin, on the South side of the street and East of Grand Ave., and a couple of blocks West of the Nassau County, P.D'.s First Precinnct Station House, I forget the name of the place. 

The garage you mention was "The Train Barn," owned and operated by Tony Musto, on Franklin Ave., in the Un-inccorporated Village of Lynbrook, U.S. of A., L.I., N.Y., just North of the 'Little Five Corners' intersection.

Tony was friendly and gave good discounted prices, in spite of his already, low selling prices.

I'm glad to meet up with someone who has experienced these great people and their businesses.

Take Care

Ralph

Mike,

I believe, if my Brain serves me correctly, Jahn's was in the Village of Rockville Center, L.I., N.Y., on the N./E. corner of Sunrise Highway and North Park, or Village Ave.

Of, course they're not there anymore, closed many moons ago, by now.

Tony Musto, of "The Train Barn," had a like new condition, nothing wrong, Lionel 'O' Gauge #620, A.T.S.F. black, diesel locomotive, with white warning/safety stripes, which had a head lamp, three position E-Unit and a ringing bell, as it moved, and I believe, Magne-Traction.  I don't think it had a horn.

ALL for only $25.00, when other places wanted $40.00, or more, this was about 1973.

You guys really used to travel by bike and go far distances and back.

Ralph

RJL:

     Jahn's was on the north side of Sunrise Highway, west of North Park Ave., but not on the corner, just one or two stores west of the corner. I am still in RVC and HAD to get MTH's version of a Jahn's Soda Shop a few years ago. (Jahn's was a chain and had many stores in Queens and, I think, in Brooklyn.)

     I also recall a small train store in Baldwin that was on the south side of Merrick Rd., one block west of the Police Station. It was not there for too long. I can't recall the name of the shop or its proprietor. There is an insurance company there now that, I believe, is in the same location. They usually have an 027 layout in their window!

     Trainland in Lynbrook was originally House of Mulraney, an auction house that took on Lionel products. I remember as a kid that when you walked in the front door, trains were to the left and paintings, sculptures, etc., were to the right.

John Knapp

Erie, not Eerie

Interesting coincidence as Charles Ro ran a beauty salon, too!

Bill

John, thank you for your info. and correcting me, I now remember, thanks to you, of Jahn's location.

The owner, of the place in Baldwin, was an elderly man who had a medical condition and spoke through a voice actuator.

Bill, I did not know of Charles Ro running a beauty salon.

Ralph

Jahn's, boy does that bring back a lot of memories. I think the original was in Richmond Hill and don't forget the "kitchen sink."

John,

The building, at the N./E. corner of Sunrise Highway and Park Ave., that I thought was Jahn's, wasn't that the bank, where all utility bills could be paid?

Ralph

RJL:

   It might have been that at one time, but as long as I can remember it has been the headquarters for the Diocese of Rockville Centre.

John Knapp

Erie, not Eerie

I am 71 and well remember Jahn's in Richmond Hill - had many YUMMY treats there while growing up in Woodhaven, Queens.

Anyone remember Manor Hobbies or Tex Foster's - both on Jamaica Ave. under the BMT El? 

Tinplate Art:

     My cousins and I went to the Richmond Hill Jahn's within the last 10 years. It was next to the RKO Keiths movie theater. The Jahn's is gone now and the RKO Keiths is now a flea market! Time marches on.

John Knapp

Erie, not Eerie

I was more the type to hang out in Glenn's bar across the street from Jahn's in Richmond Hill. Is that still there ?

On the subject of old New York Metropolitan area train stores, does anyone else remember Nagengast Hardware in Queens? I got some good stuff there. I believe the old store was closed some years back and a new one under the name of NHS Hobbies reopened about a block away.

Bob

Whatever happened to Bookbinder's?  I used to buy trains from NY from Ed Minkoff.  Don't remember a store name?

Yes, Bob, I remember Nagengast in Rigdewood, Qu.

We had to pass it to get gas, as our place only had oats and water!!!!

Ralph

Thank you John, I remember the main entrance to the Diocese of Rockville Centre was in the center of a building, which was in the center of the block, East side of Park Ave., North of Sunrise Highway.

Ralph

Mike, one of my partners lived in Bellerose, Qu., he lived at 88-50-Ransom St., across from, if, I remember correctly, a Good Humor Ice Cream plant, but by the time he and I worked together, it was an empty lot.

Ralph

yardlet6,

Not only store merchandise got ruined, but that neat blue shirt, that Bobby Bacala is wearing, got holes blown through it from the squibs going off, as bullet holes!

Ralph

Just turned 65 and also grew up in Woodhaven, 98th St., just south of Jamaica Ave. I remember Manor Hobbies but don't recall Tex Fosters. Also, we purchased some trains at Lewis' of Woodhaven.