Oldest Model Railroader?

[FJ and G]

Any guesses?

[IRONROOSTER]

John Armstrong would be my guess.
Enjoy
Paul

[dknelson]

John Armstrong is up there but there might be some that are older. There are still some charter (1935) members of the NMRA. Bob Kuene here in Milwaukee just attended the midwest regional convention a couple of weeks ago. Ken Ducat in Arizona wrote a letter to MR in January as a 70 year subscriber.
Dave Nelson

[Anonymous]

Any guesses?

I am assuming you mean still living?

We have one club member, at the age of 77, that still totes 3 modules to every show. Fits them all in an old Volvo. He manages to set up and break down faster than some of our younger members![:D]
I'm sure there are some older ones out there, still kickin!

[mikebonellisr]

Now I feel old....67.I've been modeling for 30 years[since I bought my ,,,then five year old son, a train set].I wish I would have started earlier.The eyes are starting to go,and my "Fred Flintstone"fingers are having a hard time with those HO parts.I'm starting to follow the "2 foot rule"& the old russian "goodenough"Still having lots of fun,dispite the occasional frustration.

[dknelson]

The fellow with the really nice S scale layout in the July issue of MR is 90 (in the photo he looks 70) -- and backbacks the mountains and does some logging part time! He has scratchbuilt 50 brass steam locomotives, many of them articulateds, and is starting the last one. Now that's something.
Dave Nelson

[AltonFan]

I vaguely remember hearing about a nonagenarian (90-something) former mayor of Milwaukee who was an early member of the same model railroad club in which Al Kalmbach was a member. Last I heard, he was still living.

Are there any survivors of the Edwin Alexander - Minton Cronkhite era still among us? Are any still active modelers?

[dknelson]

Frank Zeidler, former mayor of Milwaukee -- I believe also the most-elected Socialist in the history of American politics -- and charter member of the NMRA and one of the first subscribers to Model Railroader is still alive, frail but active. To my knowledge he is no longer a model railroader but is always happy to write up a brief article or letter for MR on their anniveraries. His late brother was also a mayor of Milwaukee -- lost in WW II.
Dave Nelson