Weaver and Williams brass

a fairly broad question...

both Rich Yoder and John Smith have built (imported) highly accurate versions of engines. there are several Williams and Weaver engines that are also very accurate, and some that are not. Knowledge of the prototype is key to determining if a model meets your staisfaction.

Both Williams and Weaver are known good runners. I have a Williams E6s Atlantic, it needed more detailing and its bolier is about 10 scale inches too long, but it is a darn good runner. The Sunset E6s is better but more costly. The Williams streamline K4 is another accurate version.

do your homework first.

The Williams run was the first with minimal detailing. Weaver reissued many of the locomotives with a little more detailing and with QSI reverse units so sounds can be easily added to them. Both are good runners since they came from Samhongsa- remember Williams Lost the Samhongsa brass loco deal when Williams did that 1990's "blowout" that ticked off many collectors as well as the manufacturer. Samhongsa with the direction of Mike Wolf moved importing/sales to Weaver models.

For the current low prices these days, they are worth it. Plus you can add details if needed and not worry about loss of value since they fetch near rock bottom. Best of all, Weaver mdoels locos should come with a production certificate that will boost the model's authenticity and low production numbers.

As a 2-railer, I can not speak much about the Williams line, but I did once own a Williams steam engine I liked. The detailing was minimal I thought, but as it turned out, the enine in real life, did not have much exterior detail. So I guess it was better than I first thought. It ran great on a club layout I took it to.

I have owned a lot of Weaver though. Two of their earlier brass engines, and several of their plastic diesels. The brass steam engines both ran and looked good, and cost less than a diecast Lionel engine of the same size. At the time Weavers diesels where the only real scale engines available in plastic. They also ran good, and you could get them for around 200 bucks.

Weaver's cars are plastic with molded on detail. Maybe the newer stuff has add-on grab irons these days, but when I was buying them they were molded. But the price is right, you can get a Weaver car at the train showes for + or - twenty bucks. The older cars needed to be weighted because they only came with plastic trucks. I guess with the newer ones you can get diecast sprung trucks, which would take care of that issue.

Really, Have can not say anything bad about either company. They are filling a nich out there that I think that other company's have forgotten about.

Bruce

Weaver's Gold Edition locomotives were very detailed and running and can be had for bargain basement prices today.  I have a pair of the Weaver USRA 0-6-0's on the For Sale forum right now at $220 each.  They feature all brass construction and are very smooth runnners.  I posted photos in my for sale ad.  They also made a Pennsy H10 that I's aware of that is also a very nice model.

Williams/Weaver Samhongsa built PRR models were solidly built and ran well. Piping and lost wax details were sparser than found on contemporary 2 rail brass, but were solidly applied. Some compromises were made to the clear 3 rail flanges on leading trucks and to handle O-31 curves. In particular the E6s, G5s, K4s, L1s models all had lengthened boilers and pilot extensions - giving them a slightly lanky look when compared to prototype photos. The A5s and B6s were spot on. Fortunately for 2 railers (I’m one) Sunset 3rd rail 2/3 rail O scale brass locomotives have fewer compromises to scale by virtue of being designed to run on broader 3 rail curves.

Ed Rappe

Early Weaver Brass Models

I apologize for all the non-3RS electro couplers.
Pennsy H10


Pennsy L1s


Pennsy M1a or b


RY 44 tonner and the Weaver Pennsy A5


Pennsy G5


New Weaver Brass.
Canadian Pacific Hudson along side the 1990 Pennsy M1a




Recent issue of the Pennsy Baldwin BP20


Sorry, all is three rail, except for the new issues most were purchased for $400 or less. All have current TMCC electronics and sound. The only one noticably lacking in detail is the M1a.

Here is a small video of the H10 and L1s operating.  EOB upgrades in both.  Click on the image to access the video.