That brings up memories from my childhood and youth in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The big stores for the well off were Dayton's and Donaldson's department stores. I made it a point to go downtown as soon as possible after Thanksgiving to marvel at Dayton's display of Lionel and American Flyer trains.
It seemed that each company tried to outdo the other in creative display. Dayton's trains were not in any of the windows but on the fourth floor among the toys. And what grand toys they were. Like you, I could afford only to look and dared not hope for such a grand item under the Christmas tree. No matter:It was always fun to imagine and enjoy the sight and sound of steam engine whistles, smoke, and action. Donaldson's Lionel and American Flyer displays differed from those at Dayton's, but they certainly interested the young mind as well. Great memories of a time when life was less complicated than it is now. I would say that seeing those displays influenced my interest in where I am now in scale modeling. Tom Baker ________________________________ From: [email protected] [[email protected]] on behalf of MARY & JAMES DAVIDSON [[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, November 21, 2012 10:33 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: {S-Scale List} Re: Fw: Macy's Train It was also the three, they all treid to outdo each other with window treatments, St. Louis didnt have a Maceys then I grew up on 8th and Bremen in St. Louis went downtown every christmas untill the late 60s, it was a blast to see all the stuff, but alas we where too poor to buy anything Jim Davidson ________________________________ From: up148 <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Wed, November 21, 2012 10:00:39 AM Subject: {S-Scale List} Re: Fw: Macy's Train Thanks for posting Mike. I grew up in St. Louis and have fond memories of going downtown in the 50's at Christmas time to shop and view the trains in the corner window of some department store. Always thought it was Famous Barr or Stix, Bare and Fuller, but could have been Macy's. Great memories. Butch Holtgrieve
