Hi Ed: Great observation. Since it's an opportunity for a shout-out, I'm going to add the Canadian S scale suppliers: Simon Parent for his beautiful CNR locomotives... Andy Malette for a CNR locomotive conversion kit, some essential passenger cars, and now eight-hatch reefers... and Oliver and David Clubine for CNR cabooses, Fowler patent boxcars, and more. I would not be working in this scale at all without the fine products from these fellows. - Trevor
--- Trevor Marshall Port Rowan in 1:64 I model a steam-era Canadian National branch line terminal in S scale, and blog about it here: http://themodelrailwayshow.com/cn1950s --- In [email protected], "scale S only" <scalesonly@...> wrote: > > Hi Ed and all -- > > True enough. Not mentioned was Alco Models, Oriental Models and Sunset who > got he S brass ball rolling early on. > > And I donât think enough can be said for Bill Peterâs and âSwedeâ > Norlinâs > contribution to the scale with their Sn3 products stimulating all kinds of > structure companies, figure companies, decal makers, etc., etc.. And the > same for Ron Bashistaâs American Models â" they are what created the > âcritical massâ for modern S scale. > > Even I got into the supply business with a set of EMD Blomberg B truck > sideframes to replace the original stuff that came on the AM FP-7, with a > large supply of support from Mort Mann of Sunset and Linda Mortensen of > Keystone Models. (photo) > > Thanks for the history lessons! > Bill Winans > ------------------------------ > > 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/ > ------------------------------------ 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: [email protected] [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/
