Vintage O Scale Questions/Thoughts...

There is another magazine, "O Scale Trains' that has so far had a column on O Scale (2 rail) history in every issue.    It does not very often have any 3 rail articles, so I don't think it competes with OGR which doesn't seem to very often have 2 rail articles.    It is published by White River Publications.    The guy that writes the articles, does not think Wills got everything right either.

There is also an on line magazine called O Scale Resource,   It is only available on line, but it a free publication so far.   Paid for by ads I guess.   Nothing can be free.

I admire Wills, but do not think highly of his book on O Scale history.  I felt "taken."

After aquiring a bookcase of various "how to's" and "all abouts" for many subjects, I found many a waste of time and started to be picky.  I need to preview a book before I buy it anymore.

 Sealed books stay at the store unless there is open copy to look at. Mostly the title pages, flipping for photo and diagram inclusions, and a peak at the index lets me know if it suits me.  Boarders used to let me open a copy I might be interested in. I bought more than half of those too. But that stopped so I haven't bought any in more than a decade now.

Jim

Yes, I looked at an online issue (March/April 2017) of the "O Scale Resource" earlier today; in it was an article about the guy who built some of the Max Gray engines...good stuff! I also remember a magazine that once had a great, long article about the Central Locomotive Works guy..."Bob...Smith(?)"

bob2

I feel ya. It's an "okay" treatment, but as I say, lacks depth. That's where guys like you, Carey, Jim, Ed, Dave (and others who helped me with my AN 4-6-0) could pool your vast collective knowledge and put together something pretty...swell. 

Mark in Oregon

PS: BYW: the "AN 4-6-0"; I was able to try it out this morning on a test loop (only 63" diam curves), but it actually runs pretty well. I do think that is too tight a curvature, but for now, it works. Thanks again to all of you who helped me.

Yes.  Go for 48" min radius - 96" diameter.

It turns out that Maroon has been studying this stuff, with help from Woody, Carey, and others, and may be in the best position to record all this ancient stuff.  I did my part in the 1980s and 90s, and did do an interview with Bob and Winnie Smith (Harmon Monk was with us - RIP).  The result was a very small part of history involving the all cast Alco PA.

I think I am happy now to be flying every day, avoiding Covids, and maybe pressing a few more rivets in the Dockside.

Fair enough...be safe!  

Mark in Oregon

If you can find yourself a set of "O Scale News 48/ft" magazine (now defunct) you will get a fair amount of the kind of information you seek. It was started as a newsletter by a gent named Dan Henon, and evolved into a magazine. It ceased publication with the passing of it's last editor, Greg Heier (see the "O Scale Hall of Fame"

Simon

Yes, all opinion but "48 to the Ft" was a great magazine for the scale during it's run, part how-to, part catalog with a lot of product reviews and some fascinating layout coverage. As I recall it periodically had articles about older manufacturers ( "vintage") too. Ironically the original O Gauge Railroading published by Vane Jones was/is also a great source for information about earlier manufacturers and the state of the hobby in general during the 60's-70's.  As I recall RMC periodically had a column on primeval O scale manufacturers back then too.

Hello all ...vintage O scale is a wonderful wide open field with so many avenues to explore ...

to defend Keith Wills' book ....there is a lot of info and insight packed in the skinny book ....but yes it could easily be 3  x 4 times longer and still only touch the top of the iceberg ...here is a link to another posting about Keith's book

https://ogrforum.com/...-book-by-keith-wills

Research field is open for all to jump in ...   I 've been collecting the vintage O scale   1920's -1955  for about 4 years now ... early on  filled up the library with full runs of 

Model Maker 

Model Railroader 

Model Craftsman /  MRC 

Whistle Stop 

O gauge Modeler 

Miniature Trains 

Model Builder

48 ft  early issues 

O scale railroading  / O gauge railroading   

Jim DeBruin's articles in O scale trains 

O scale resource    there will be an article about vintage trolleys coming out soon 

Fortunately ebay will provide you a wall full of research for not a whole lot of $$$$   yes some are available online ..but staring at a screen sucks for hours on end ..  

early stuff was not made in the numbers of the later stuff ...so yes harder to find ...but less folks looking .... everything is out there ... just beat the bushes ..... oh yes with luck there will be train shows again ..

.Be-careful collecting vintage O scale what starts out as a piece here and a piece there ...soon your whole basement is filled !!!!

Come on hop in the water tis a big pool  ...

Cheers Carey 

Oh yeah...that's what I'm talkin' about!

Now Carey, if you would please: take a close up picture of everything!  

I always look forward to seeing your latest acquisition(s)...as I've mentioned before, I dunno where you keep finding this stuff, but thank goodness you do!

Mark in Oregon

Yikes Carey! Awesome layout and walls of engines, rolling stock. Neat buildings. Impressive. Thanks for the photos. 

That's the way I started down that slope as well, I couple of prices of rolling stock and then I picked up a Scale craft K4... then a titlewave hit me! about ten years ago I got really interested and was lucky and bought lots of cars in singles and groups over time for next to nothing.  I would look for lots of loose OLD two rail trucks, any and everything and I also searched for catalogs as well.  The old catalogs are a huge source but they don't cover everything!!.  I think my hard interest came from reading all the old Model Builders as there were a lot of layout pictures and articles that includes some early O scale both two rail and outside third rail as well has hi-railed stuff.  I think that interest just egged me on and I still have my prewar tinplate interests as I know Carey does also.  It sure gets out of control fast lol.

@Carey Williams posted:

Be-careful collecting vintage O scale what starts out as a piece here and a piece there ...soon your whole basement is filled !!!!

Cheers Carey

Carey,

It's no different with O gauge.

The first piece I bought, 23 years ago, was a pricey new MTH Premier scale-sized New York Central Hudson. I thought I was crazy to spend so much on a model locomotive but couldn't resist and promised myself I wouldn't be so foolish again. Now, 23 years later, I'm still buying... What railroad would you like to have me run for you on my layout???

But, seriously, I would enjoy reading a good book about the history of O scale.

MELGAR

One was written recently, but in my opinion it wasn't really all that good.  I have a copy - opened it once, and figured you win some, you lose some.

@Carey Williams posted:

Hello all ...vintage O scale is a wonderful wide open field with so many avenues to explore ...

How about a close-up of the orange Vane Jones Presto-Plast WB&A articulator? They were made for Don Wertz's hobby shop in Hyattsvile, MD along with a Paul Moore O scale Niles 52' coach kit.

Don't forget: www.proto48.org

From Tinplate to Proto 48, it should be a Happy Family and not a War of O, where everyone is welcome and come together to share friendship and exchange ideas.  Sadly, for some, this has been largely forgotten in recent years.

United We Stand

Divided We Fall

Strummer said:

On another thread, I had mentioned I got a pair of Auel trucks and that I did not know they were made to 17/64"; so just for kicks, I took this Athearn car (with I'm guessing All Nation trucks):

I tried to find a pair of Dalman trucks years ago when I made this Seaboard Air Line Double-Door (Opposing Ends) Boxcar:

but the only thing available was a set of Keil-Line trucks.  Bob2 sent me a set of trucks made of bronze (I think) but I haven't taken a photo of them.

I tried to get a couple of the current model makers to make/offer them but so far nothing.  My research indicated a number of RRs used these trucks.