and he notes -
An interesting observation. When one considers the main interest in
the S Gaugian, Flyer on the cover makes sense. But not all his covers
were so and some "scale" does get the cover spot. It is interesting
also that Don Heimberger's model railroad is scale and not tinplate.
One could surmise from the content that there would be little in the
publication of interest to him!
It's also interesting to note that A. C. Gilbert was not a toy train
enthusiast either and only got into it as an investment. His real
interest was big game hunting and magic (specifically sleight of
hand). Though trained as a doctor, he never practiced and (with his
father's backing) started the Mysto Magic Company making magician's
props. The name changed to the A. C. Gilbert Co. and they added kids
versions of magic items and then Erector. No doubt Lionel's success
in the model train field inspired A. C. to acquire AF in the 30's
and embark on the now familiar die cast trains which eventually
became their S Gauge line. And he didn't do it as a model railroader,
but rather a sharp businessman.
BTW - A. C. did team with a scale manufacturer once (at least in S
Gauge). He saw Sylvania's extruded aluminum passenger cars at a hobby
show in the late 40s and hired Willis Stewart to design the AF 660
series cars produced in 1950. For payment, Stewart asked for 100 or
so K5 loco and tender shells (with pilot and cylinders, etc. which he
then used in the Midgage PRR Pacific. So as focused as A. C. was on
the toy train market, he could also see the possibilities in adapting
a scale model to the toy line. A. C. did not follow Lionel into the
"scale" field such as they did with the Hudson. He knew where the
bread and butter was and was more than happy to leave the scale S
Gauge locomotive market to Bill Stewart. As it was it took more than
a decade for Bill Stewart to unload them.
In a way Don Heimberger has done about the same thing. His interest
is in scale and prototype railroading but his revenue comes from toy
train enthusiasts. Catering solely to scale enthusiasts is about as
rewarding (investment wise) as selling ice boxes to Eskimos.
Considering how long Don has stayed with his publication, I'd say
he's long since gotten the right formula.
Raleigh in chilly Maine
At 03:10 PM 12/22/2007, Tom Hawley wrote:
>----- Original Message -----
>From: Richard Karnes
>. . . . . . . .I know this is only a hobby. . . . . . . .
> > > > > > > > > >
>It's not just a hobby, it's many hobbies. And the primary hobby the S
>Gaugian is oriented to is American Flyer preservation. The "prototype" of
>that hobby is not real trains, it's the A C Gilbert American Flyer toy train
>system.
>
>Within that hobby there are many opinions as to what's desirable and what's
>incongruous, just as in our model railroading one man worries about scale
>accuracy of individual items while another just wants a railroad the
>captures the look and feel of a certain real railroad.
>
>In American Flyer preservation one man will mix in realistic items Mr
>Gilbert wouldn't recognize while another man restricts himself strictly to
>Gilbert products. But the American Flyer people, in all their variations,
>dominate the S Gaugian buying public. And there's not much we can do about
>that. As you well know, S Scale-oriented publications don't last.
>
>But I feel your pain. Two pictures come to my mind at this moment that I
>saw in the S Gaugian, both involving bridges, both just plain wrong. Anyone
>with an I Q above room temperature could see they were wrong. And it's
>embarrassing when real modellers in other scales see such things.
>
>When I talk at train shows to potential S scale modellers who want to know
>where to learn more, it can be embarrassing to show them the S Gaugian, but
>I tell them it's good for the advertisements and then also try to also foist
>off on them a copy of the Modelling Guide. The latter I usually end up
>giving away, but that's another story.
>
>Tom Hawley (S Gaugian dealer)
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
