I am so excited to have helped on this car!
Let’s talk a little about this car; first up at the road name and markings. We have taken an existing road name (Beverage Ventilator Despatch) which was owned by Merchants Despatch and manufactured here in NY state in Rochester, and closely affiliated with the New York Central. Here’s an actual photo of a BVDX car in East Rochester, which I purchased from the digital archives of the NYCSHS. Copy of the receipt below.
We used colors that would be appropriate for FX Matt labels from that era and are intended to represent a light green label on a dark green glass bottle.
In matching with ICC guidelines for the era, the lettering, road numbers and car weight and capacity details are black representing a car manufactured in 1933; right before the end of the billboard reefer era.
Weight and capacity details are taken directly from BVDX #102, as does the reference to the journal pack lettering and location of East Rochester.
With that said, let’s continue on to the subtle nods to the FXM Brewery’s history. Car numbers are 1878 and 1888; the years that represent the year that a 19-year old Francis X. Matt emigrated to America from Germany and settles in Utica, NY and the year that he reorganized the Bierbauer Brewery to form the West End Brewing Company, respectively.
The repack date represents December 1st, 1933; the date on the memo that allows FX Matt to ship at 12:01am the day of the repeal of Prohibition, December 5th, 1933.
There’s another subtle detail, and that is the return routing placard next to the door which reads “When empty, return to the West End Brewing Co., Utica, NY”
Lastly, let’s look at the Matt’s Premium Utica Club logo, lifted directly an actual logo from that era, and to this day is the only era to have both Matt’s Premium and Utica Club in the same logo, something that Mr. Matt was about to learn himself from this research.
We would like publicly thank Mr. Matt, and his marketing team, for allowing @JR Junction Train & Hobby to use, manufacture under license and sell these cars with their logo in hopes that this will be an ongoing cooperation for future projects.
Even though FXM and West End Brewing never shipped in private-labeled cars, there is an extensive railroad & brewery history that still exists to this day! Here’s a video from a friend that shows their modern delivery practices… yes; the GP40 goes in the brewery.
We would also like to thank the other customers, like myself, that continue to support brick and mortar hobby shops everywhere, and those here whom are preordering these beauties.
Sincerely,
- Mario
Ps - my research and networking services were strictly voluntary and I have no other financial incentive, other than ensuring that I have a local hobby shop to purchase from in the future. Thanks!
Great ideas for a smaller shelf-type switching layout!
