old kits and magazines from the 30's and 40's

[Anonymous]

Greetings. My family in NJ is searching for information on how we can find model railroading enthusiasts who are interested in the old HO kits for building cars from the 1930's, 1940's and 1950's.
My father passed away two years ago, and he had a substantial collection of cars and kits that he started during the Depression. He collected railroad cars for a lifetime, so we also have a lot of cars from the 1990's through 2001.<p>

Here are some of the names on the older kits: Varney; Ambroid;
Quality Kraft; Ye Old Huff-N-Puff; and Main Line.<p>

We also have a big magazine case my father built himself in his woodworking shop, and while we haven't gone through all of the magazines yet, according to his hand-printed list, somewhere down bottom, we have magazines going back to 1936 and 1937. The case has 18 compartments; each is 2 feet deep; and they're about 80% - 90% filled. I've gone through the books and I know that we have one book from 1935, and others that are dated 1940.<p>

My father liked to get his collectibles organized and listed on hand-printed lists. My brother has checked the lists against the boxes and typed one consolidated list, so we have a computerized inventory.<p>

The dealers in NJ are telling him that people are no longer interested in the old kits for building cars - that people don't have the time for that anymore.

So, I'm wondering if there's an organization or club for people who are interested in this stuff from the early days of model railroading, and if anyone can provide any leads on how to find the right people for these old kits.<p>

Thank you for whatever assistance you can provide. [e-mail] (We are in Woodbridge Township, NJ).

[Anonymous]

Greetings. My family in NJ is searching for information on how we can find model railroading enthusiasts who are interested in the old HO kits for building cars from the 1930's, 1940's and 1950's.
My father passed away two years ago, and he had a substantial collection of cars and kits that he started during the Depression. He collected railroad cars for a lifetime, so we also have a lot of cars from the 1990's through 2001.<p>

Here are some of the names on the older kits: Varney; Ambroid;
Quality Kraft; Ye Old Huff-N-Puff; and Main Line.<p>

We also have a big magazine case my father built himself in his woodworking shop, and while we haven't gone through all of the magazines yet, according to his hand-printed list, somewhere down bottom, we have magazines going back to 1936 and 1937. The case has 18 compartments; each is 2 feet deep; and they're about 80% - 90% filled. I've gone through the books and I know that we have one book from 1935, and others that are dated 1940.<p>

My father liked to get his collectibles organized and listed on hand-printed lists. My brother has checked the lists against the boxes and typed one consolidated list, so we have a computerized inventory.<p>

The dealers in NJ are telling him that people are no longer interested in the old kits for building cars - that people don't have the time for that anymore.

So, I'm wondering if there's an organization or club for people who are interested in this stuff from the early days of model railroading, and if anyone can provide any leads on how to find the right people for these old kits.<p>

Thank you for whatever assistance you can provide. [e-mail] (We are in Woodbridge Township, NJ).

[IRONROOSTER]

Go to the NMRA's page at www.nmra.org and under the Special Interest Groups you'll find the HO Collectors and History SIG, they list a contact person.
Good Luck
Paul

[IRONROOSTER]

Go to the NMRA's page at www.nmra.org and under the Special Interest Groups you'll find the HO Collectors and History SIG, they list a contact person.
Good Luck
Paul

[Anonymous]

Paul, thanks for the response. Will do. Roz

[Anonymous]

Paul, thanks for the response. Will do. Roz

[dknelson]

Sounds like a job for E-Bay!
My own observation is that there is limited interest in old magazines, at least before 1950. As for kits ... one problem is that the more wood there is in the kit the more you worry about warpage over the years. Some of my oldest unbuilt kits are now worthless except for some parts and for the drawings.
My sense is that Ambroid kits still have a following.
Dave Nelson

[dknelson]

Sounds like a job for E-Bay!
My own observation is that there is limited interest in old magazines, at least before 1950. As for kits ... one problem is that the more wood there is in the kit the more you worry about warpage over the years. Some of my oldest unbuilt kits are now worthless except for some parts and for the drawings.
My sense is that Ambroid kits still have a following.
Dave Nelson

[Anonymous]

The local hobby shop has old wooden kits from 40's or 50's marked for less than $5 for a flat car (that's the original sticker price) and they are still there 50 years later unsold. Also has wooden stock car kits for about $7. If they had any value I would buy them and resale them on ebay. In fact I did and got no bids. Same with magazines, the old ones are 75 cents each or 5 for $2.50 and they date into the early 50's if you dig deep enough. FRED

[Anonymous]

The local hobby shop has old wooden kits from 40's or 50's marked for less than $5 for a flat car (that's the original sticker price) and they are still there 50 years later unsold. Also has wooden stock car kits for about $7. If they had any value I would buy them and resale them on ebay. In fact I did and got no bids. Same with magazines, the old ones are 75 cents each or 5 for $2.50 and they date into the early 50's if you dig deep enough. FRED

[jrbarney]

Roz,
Go to the NMRA site URL mentioned in one of the other postings and scroll down to the Kalmbach Memorial Library button and submit a note to its director, Brent L. Lambert. Inquire about which back issues and books they would be interested in having you donate. Am not an accountant/tax adviser, but believe you can add the cost of shipping as a "cost of doing business" when you itemize your donations for the IRS, but don't know anything about NJ income taxes. PS, what Main Line kits do you have ?
Bob

[jrbarney]

Roz,
Go to the NMRA site URL mentioned in one of the other postings and scroll down to the Kalmbach Memorial Library button and submit a note to its director, Brent L. Lambert. Inquire about which back issues and books they would be interested in having you donate. Am not an accountant/tax adviser, but believe you can add the cost of shipping as a "cost of doing business" when you itemize your donations for the IRS, but don't know anything about NJ income taxes. PS, what Main Line kits do you have ?
Bob

[Anonymous]

Well, I have a keen interest in this particular subject, I got a small collection of late 1930's MRs and I have been searching for some vintage equipment. (gee, why didn't think of an SIG?) I'm looking a few of the ads right now and I just want to know, do you happen to have some Megow freight car kits and some Walthers passenger cars from the late 30's and early 40's? And one more thing, do you have any old Mantua steam locomotives?

[Anonymous]

Well, I have a keen interest in this particular subject, I got a small collection of late 1930's MRs and I have been searching for some vintage equipment. (gee, why didn't think of an SIG?) I'm looking a few of the ads right now and I just want to know, do you happen to have some Megow freight car kits and some Walthers passenger cars from the late 30's and early 40's? And one more thing, do you have any old Mantua steam locomotives?

[Anonymous]

didn't notice you posted this in one of my ols threads

[Anonymous]

didn't notice you posted this in one of my ols threads

[joseph2]

Two dealers who might buy from your collection are www.jaystrains.com/ for the kits and www.railpub.com for the magazines. If you have copies of Railroad Magazine from the 1930's I make you an offer.

[joseph2]

Two dealers who might buy from your collection are www.jaystrains.com/ for the kits and www.railpub.com for the magazines. If you have copies of Railroad Magazine from the 1930's I make you an offer.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, everyone, for the responses.<p> Flyingscot, Bob - send me an email at [e-mail], and I will send you an email back, with a cut & paste from my brother's list.<p>
Joseph, I'm not sure which magazines we have, but I will check. I'm in NYC, and I'm going out to my parents' house in NJ this coming week. I know what's on my father's list, but we have to go through the bottom of the magazine case to confirm what's on the list. Some things might not have survived the years, but we'll see. Send me an email, too, so I can get back to you directly. Roz

[Anonymous]

Thanks, everyone, for the responses.<p> Flyingscot, Bob - send me an email at [e-mail], and I will send you an email back, with a cut & paste from my brother's list.<p>
Joseph, I'm not sure which magazines we have, but I will check. I'm in NYC, and I'm going out to my parents' house in NJ this coming week. I know what's on my father's list, but we have to go through the bottom of the magazine case to confirm what's on the list. Some things might not have survived the years, but we'll see. Send me an email, too, so I can get back to you directly. Roz

[Anonymous]

Flyingscot - be sure to send me your email address. I checked the list and we don't have any Megow kits; we do have Walthers; and my brother says the one Mantua steam locomotive that's on the list from 1946 is a little one - the little locomotive that pushes the bigger locomotive (a "goat"?). There's another car that goes with it. Roz

[Anonymous]

Flyingscot - be sure to send me your email address. I checked the list and we don't have any Megow kits; we do have Walthers; and my brother says the one Mantua steam locomotive that's on the list from 1946 is a little one - the little locomotive that pushes the bigger locomotive (a "goat"?). There's another car that goes with it. Roz

[Anonymous]

Sorry to hear of your loss.
Try www.the-gauge.com/forums they have a forum for the sale and purchase of those items it includes the ability to include photos.

[Anonymous]

Sorry to hear of your loss.
Try www.the-gauge.com/forums they have a forum for the sale and purchase of those items it includes the ability to include photos.

[Anonymous]

Put the kits on eBay and get a little money. If you list them with an adequate description and start them at a reasonable (nominal) price, they will surprise you. There is a big market for mint wood kits and it shows on eBay. The magazineare a different story, however.

[Anonymous]

Put the kits on eBay and get a little money. If you list them with an adequate description and start them at a reasonable (nominal) price, they will surprise you. There is a big market for mint wood kits and it shows on eBay. The magazineare a different story, however.