The Madison Hardware Story is a Total Winner

I am a few pages past the mid point. So far some shock and awe and also confirmation. I won't go into detail and spoil it for those who haven't read it yet. It does finally answer some lifelong questions I had about the place.

Wow, thank you both for the kind words. I grew up reading Greenberg, Osterhoff, Hollander, etc. I always looked up to them. At the end of the day I want nothing more than to leave a meaningful mark on the hobby that has given so much to me. If you have enjoyed the book and learned, then I have accomplished my goal. I truly am humbled.

I received my copy today, and I'm pretty sure I'll have finished reading it before the weekend is over. Very interesting, and I say that as someone who has never had any connection whatsoever to the storied place. The numerous reproductions of Angela Trotta Thomas' art was an unexpected and welcome surprise.

Jim

Just received my copy and it is fantastic! Great pictures and stories.

Miketg

I got my signed copy at the TCA Museum open house and read it in two weeks (I'm a slow reader). Enjoyed learning about Madison in NY and Detroit. Thanks Derek for a great read.

My uncle Jim Hoff worked at Madison Hardware after retiring from ownership of "The Train Clinic" in Detroit Michigan. He was the main repairman for Lionel trains at Madison. It is possible his father also worked there as a repairman. I would love to know if any photos exist of either of them at work. I would be willing to offer compensation for copies. Please respond to my email: nythawkk@bellsouth.net

There was a man named "Joe" who was the main repairman at the Madison Hardware that I knew all those years. He was always dressed in a white (often smudged from work) tee-shirt and would only step into the front-of-house when summoned by the brothers. It got to be an inside joke, when a customer would ask for a very obscure part, and we would hear Lou call out: "Oh Joooooe!! we need a (fill in the blank)." Joe would suddenly appear from under the stairs and have the correct part in his hand.

Was he also a relative of yours?

@John Zynda It sounds like your Uncle Jim would have worked for Madison after Richard Kughn relocated it to Detroit in the early 1990's. In all honesty, I didn't spend a great deal of time on researching Detroit. We have about 50 or so photos total of what the Detroit setup looked like. I can certainly check and see if I have any photos from the Detroit repair department.

As to Joe in New York, that was hands down one of the hardest parts of writing the book. I searched for MONTHS for a photo of Joe and also for his last name. I was finally able to locate both. Lou had a photo of Joe that was heavily water damaged but we were able to have it restored for use in the book. Joe was unfortunately killed in a car accident in the mid 1980's, it really rattled Lou and Carl and things were never quite the same at Madison for the remainder of the time in New York.   

Arthur, no not a relative. Maybe Joe was in NY?

Thanks Notch 6. Yes, it was in Detroit. He had his own store on Hubbell Ave called The Train Clinic before retiring. I had heard through the grapevine that he worked at Madison afterward ...I never knew that before. I used to have some photos which were probably from a model railroading publication and showed his father "Pop Hoff" at work but they have unfortunately been lost over the years. If by some miracle I happen to find them I would be happy to share.

I visited both Madisons, the one in New York and the one in Detroit.  At the Detroit location, I recall seeing boxes behind a chain link fence that said "Save for Joey." 

I guess I’ll have to get a copy. I have 52 cabinets from Madison Hardware filled with parts purchased at the Kuhn auction.

Don't let the front cover picture fool you.  There were not a lot of happy smiling children coming out of there!

@BMT-Express posted:

Don't let the front cover picture fool you.  There were not a lot of happy smiling children coming out of there!

Yes, I guess Carl and Lou weren't really too fond of children.

Shortly after Madison Hardware was moved to Detroit by Richard Kughn, they hosted an open house for one of the train clubs...maybe TTOS or LOTS?      We were allowed to visit the new location and purchase boxed Lionel trains and parts. I was standing in line to order and heard some commotion behind the counter. There I saw Neil Young and Kalmbach's Jim Bunte canvassing the endless aisle of trains and parts. They were laughing and talking trains and had complete behind-the-counter access to the stash.                                                                                                                                                                                I didn't buy enough that day.

TJ

I believe that was the 1994 TTOS Convention which was based in Dearborn if my increasingly hazy memory isn’t failing me. Having been long time customers of Madison in New York City, my father and I took that tour. Like you, I wish we had bought more when we visited. I recall stacks of unpainted GG1 shells. I should have picked one up as a conversation piece.

Bob

Folks how can you mail order this book first I have heard about it?

Unfortunately there's not currently a place to buy a copy of the book. Both times I've had it printed it sells out within a matter of months. The last time we had it run was back in 2018 and it has been sold out since. I'm considering a new run since it's been a few years, but it would be a project that might happen later this year or next year. Certainly keep your eyes out and I'll post on OGR if we choose to move forward.

Have you thought of making it an E-book?

@CSXJOE posted:

Have you thought of making it an E-book?

Yup, I certainly have. This crowd doesn't "do" E-books. Or at least they have not in the past. They want to hold it, touch it, feel it.  I tend to agree with that. We could do it, have considered doing it, but I just don't feel like it does the product justice.

@Notch 6 posted:

Yup, I certainly have. This crowd doesn't "do" E-books. Or at least they have not in the past. They want to hold it, touch it, feel it.  I tend to agree with that. We could do it, have considered doing it, but I just don't feel like it does the product justice.

Correct. I wouldn't be interested in an e-book (I don't have an "e-magazine", either; when the paper ones get too thin, well, that's it).

---------

I went to Madison in Detroit on an LCCA convention tour in the early 90's. (The Michigan Central terminal was quite a site, too - as was Kughn's Carail - which I actually first learned about and saw photos of in Car and Driver magazine.)

Depending how it is formatted, you can print it out.

@Notch 6 posted:

Unfortunately there's not currently a place to buy a copy of the book. Both times I've had it printed it sells out within a matter of months. The last time we had it run was back in 2018 and it has been sold out since. I'm considering a new run since it's been a few years, but it would be a project that might happen later this year or next year. Certainly keep your eyes out and I'll post on OGR if we choose to move forward.

Bring back the remakes of the postwar dealer posters!!!!!!!

@Notch 6 posted:

Unfortunately there's not currently a place to buy a copy of the book. Both times I've had it printed it sells out within a matter of months. The last time we had it run was back in 2018 and it has been sold out since. I'm considering a new run since it's been a few years, but it would be a project that might happen later this year or next year. Certainly keep your eyes out and I'll post on OGR if we choose to move forward.

In 1949 my mother purchased my first Lionel train set at Madison Hardware, Since then, I've always had an interest in this store.  Now I'm wondering how I never heard about your book??  So, if you decide to do another printing, I would like to be put on the list to purchase a copy.  If no list, how do I find out about the printing of a new copy?