What do you do with your old Model Railroader Magazines?

[tomwatkins]

I keep them. I made storage binders for them out of heavy cardboard. Each binder stores one year's magazines vertically. I also copy the table of contents pages for each issue and keep them in 3 ring binders.
Tom Watkins

[IRONROOSTER]

I save all of mine. I have all but but about 10 back to 1950 plus a few earlier ones. I also have RMC, NMRA Bulletin back to the early 70's. With the magazine index on this site I can finally find articles, plans, etc.
Enjoy
Paul

[Fergmiester]

I've amassed 12 years worth, which is now sitting in a corner. I'm seriously thinking about ripping them apart canabalising them and sticking the worthwhile articles in platic sleeves, then catagorizing them for easy reference.

[CP5415]

I keep mine, somewhere!
I have a few in binders, most are scattered about the house. especially in both "libraries" so that I continually read them.

Gordon

[tutaenui]

I had a collection of MR that went back to 1953. Storage was a real problem, as I get 5 other model Rail publications. Now I only keep the current year intact but strip out the articles that interest me from the previous issues ( even if only remotely) and hold them in folders and donate the remains to the paper recyclers.
There is a German model mag that brings out the previous years issues on CD which is very handy.

[cisco1]

That article list sounds like a great idea. Its hard to get rid of such a valuable reference, so I have to keep adding to it. Only have issues from 1970 on at this point. Hope to get most of it in binders someday. Have a seven year old who comes to visit once in a while and loves model railroading. He's gotten a very good feel for a transistorized throttle and can take a train around the layout like a seasoned veteran! Went through my back issues a while back and surprised him with a big box full. You would have thought I gave him cash he was so happy!

[krump]

you can send them to me... I think the binder idea is great, and neat / orderly. I'll need to start doing that.
I've started to develop a list categorizing all significant articles (by issue) that relate to topics of interest - how to make trees, realistic water, weathering methods, DCC etc.
Then, when I need a particular article, I can find it on the printed list...and go straight to the issue that it was in... works great in theory.
(in need the articles in front of me as I am a visual type learner, computer screens are great, but I want the paper copy in my hand when I get to work - being a detail freak)
cheers

[Jetrock]

I've got about half a shelf's worth of MR, a few I got from my dad when I got back into the hobby, some from the past two years that I bought at the hobbyshop, and quite a few from the "10 cents an issue" boxes at a railroad show I attended. I don't buy every issue or grab every back issue I can--normally I'll flip through and make sure there is something that will be immediately useful. Unfortunately for my pocketbook and shelf space there is something useful more often than not...

[Hawks05]

i have about 6 or 7. they are sitting in my desk along with the 3 Trains i have and the Walthers adds i get. i have another place just for reference books.

my friend said he'd give me a bunch but never did, i don't think he has them because he was going to throw them out when he moved so he probably did that.

[Anonymous]

i havent ever boughten any yet. our local library has a subscription so i jsut go there to read it. heck save me $$$ which i dont even have now. althougth i dont buy them i do have a large collectiont that i have found thown out. i have a good shelf full of MRs, Trains, modle RR craftsmans, walthers catologs and what not. it all makes great reference material... but i sure dose take up a lot of space. and i dont have any better ideas on that

[Anonymous]

I have all mine lined up on a book shelf. I hope to put them in binders some time.

James

[Big_Boy_4005]

I was born in 1961. I got my first subscription in 1973. I own every issue back to 1950.

See all those blue binders?



And I do look at them, more now than ever because of the forum.

[Anonymous]

I'm Starting to have too many, and it's getting to be a pain to move them every time I move, etc.

What does everyone do with them?

I also have some old MR books from when I was a kid that are horribly outdated. It's time for some stuff to go!

(I might add a favorite music magazine of mine came out with a computer DVD containing the first 30 years of their existence for a mere $200. That enabled me to get rid of my collection knowing if I ever really HAD to have an article, I could get to it - without lugging around a 15 year subscription worth of mags!)