> Ed...
> Loved learning the real history on this project.
> Bob H.
Having been active in S scale since 1969, I can tell you that almost all of S
scale has been accomplished by little guys working in their little homes making
little things. But each of these little things contributed to the much larger
overall S picture that we enjoy today. One guy made wheels, one guy adapted
couplers, one guy imported flex track, one guy cast brass details, one guy made
decals, one guy made a drive system from pieces and parts, one guy made a
magazine, one guy did resin castings, one guy did this and one guy did that.
It is a very long list of individual accomplishments all aimed at filling a
void in S scale.
There was a time when the guy who made wheels was so busy, he could not make
more wheels. Yes, he owned an automatic screw machine, but it was fully
occupied with productive profit-making projects unrelated to toy trains. Not
much different from Jim King's situation today. But S scale went without any
wheels for an extended period of time. Eventually, all the kit makers and NASG
pooled their orders and arranged for 10,000 wheels to be made at one time.
Until then, this degree of cooperation and volume of production was almost
unheard of. But it worked and S wheels have never been completely out of
production since then.
I find it interesting to realize that the really significant contributions to S
scale have mostly been made by people who were S scale modelers first and S
scale manufacturers/importers later. Folks like Ron Bashista (AM), Don
Thompson (SHS), Jim Kindraka (RRM), Frank Titman (LVM), Don Heimburger
("S"cenery Unlimited) etc., etc.....and the list goes on and on.
I also find it concerning that nobody from outside the S scale modeling
community has produced S scale products and stuck with it for an extended
period of time. Yes, Overland Models made some brass imports, but quickly
exited S and let RRM assume all the risk. Southwind Models stuck with S
(thanks, Jettie), but retired without a replacement. MTH and American Flyer
have entered the S scale market, but longevity and significance are not yet
known.
I guess we could say Kadee is a non-S modeler that entered the S scale business
for an extended period of time, but they produced an On3 coupler and labeled it
S. Not sufficient in my book. NWSL has done well for S with various wheels,
gearboxes, motors, flywheels, etc., but most of their products are usable in
many different scales and are not totally S-specific. Same general comment for
Grandt Line except for the S scale A-B brake gear which was financed for them
by PRS which was a partnership of two S scale modelers (Porter and Verser).
S scale history is an interesting assortment of cottage industry folks all
doing things to the best of their abilities. It is amazing that we can
actually build a complete layout with as a result of their efforts. Nothing
from Athearn, Bachmann, Kato, Atlas, etc., etc. for us to enjoy. But S life
goes on........
Ruminations are fun when you get old. Apologies for names of S contributors
accidentally omitted -- like Kinsman, The Supply Car, PBL, etc.
Cheers....Ed L.
http://sscale.org/
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