Here are some photos of the old Madison Hardware store in NY.
I thought there might be some interest in seeing the old store. It sure looks like a mess, hopefully they knew where everything was.
thanks for sharing! I wish I had be able to get there a few times.
Dave
It's a TOY, A child's PLAYTHING!!! (Woody from Toy Story)
Ah, nothing like a good, old-fashioned, "looks like a bomb went off in here" train shop! A vanishing breed, that's for certain.
Firelock76 Ah, nothing like a good, old-fashioned, "looks like a bomb went off in here" train shop! A vanishing breed, that's for certain.
For the most part, they did know where there merchandise was located. It was amazing to watch a transaction where someone wanted an obsure part, and Joey (later Carl) knew exactly where to find it. Some of those drawers appeared to be filled with random junk, but that made no difference. There must have been some sort of system. On rare occasion, I was told that they didn't have certain parts on hand, and to ask again on my next visit. Same goes for finished goods.
As an aside, I don't think there are a lot of photographs of the insides at Madison Hardware. During the time period I was going there, they did not allow cameras in the store, and did not give interviews.
It was an amazing place. Used to go every Christmas season with my friend Sam when we were kids. Loved to just look at all the trains I wanted for my wish list. Great photos ... thanks for posting.
Great photos Dave. Brings back some fond memories of piddling around in the store. I had business in the area that took me there often for a year some time back. I remember being in awe of the shelf upon shelf of parts - seeing hundreds of tinplate loco bodies, etc,, in wrapping paper on the shelves and all the parts bins - and as you said - they knew where it was. I only purchased one car there (always parts), a PW REA express refrigerator car.
Regards, Roy
To cwburfle: Oh, I'm sure those Madison Hardware guys had a system, but if it was like a lot of old-time store proprietors it was all in their minds. Those gents probably had photographic memories. I'm sure a lot of small business owners have that same photo-memory system, nice thing about it it never needs rebooting or crashes.
In 1985 I was working at WCBS-FM, and walked in with my Dad's trashed #238E. I had wrecked it as a kid in the 1970's, and wanted to fix it. The gears were stripped, and the rods trashed.
First, Carl & Lou quizzed me to see if I was worthy. Lucky for me, I had already become fairly expert in all things Lionel, and easily passed.
Then Lou rolled a ladder down the wall, climbed up ten feet, and came down with a perfectly wrapped set of parts for the Lionel #238E, straight from the factory! She still runs to this day!
Jon
We don't need no stinkin' computers! Yeah, it's amazing how in the heck they could walk to a spot in the store, reach into an old cardboard box and pull out some obscure part. And it would be the RIGHT part. Those day's are nothing but fond memories of two gentlemen who had "the right stuff."
I imagine they did inventory and figured profitability the old fashioned way too:
"How much money'd we pay out last month?"
"How much we take in?"
"Is it more than we paid out? Yes?"
"OK, that's all we need to know! Back to work!"
Dave632, fascinating photos. I never had a chance to visit the store. Wish I had. I think those kind of stores are just about a thing of the past. Inventory everywhere you looked. Thanks for sharing! Bo
Visit my website Bo's Trains at http://www.bostrains.com
Thanks, Bo
I actually found those on a video I had and I took the pictures off the video screen.
I lived in the New York area in the 50s and 60s but I never made it to the store.
It would have been interesting and a site to see as many talk about it.
I understand they bought Lionel scrap parts at $25 a ton. They must have had a warehouse full somewhere.
Actually, they had 3 or 4 warehouses scattered around. When Richard Kuhn bought them out it took 15 full size tractor trailers to haul it all to Michigan.
Roger
As I picked up my R transformer - a sticker from Madison Hardware wafted to the floor. My dad had it reconditioned - along with his 248 - in the 1980s there. Still going strong!
Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.
trainrat Actually, they had 3 or 4 warehouses scattered around. When Richard Kuhn bought them out it took 15 full size tractor trailers to haul it all to Michigan. Roger
Wow, 15 tractor trailers, what a haul...
I was there once in the late 70's. I wish that I went back, but other things took precedence. I stood there in awe and I could not decide what I wanted. At the time, my trains were in storage and I was more into boats and fishing. As I remember it was a side trip before going to the NY Boat Show.
My buddy was fortunate to work at the Detroit Michigan madison store after the move. His stories of what they had in stock are amazing. He said it would take you 2 full days to see everything they had. They also had a running layout upstairs that was sometimes visited by Neil Young. I have pics of that here somewhere.
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