I've had the usual smattering of "Acme Bird Feed" and the like over the years. My favorites were derived from the old Bob and Ray Radio Program on NPR, which was brought to you by Einbinder Flypaper, "the brand you've gradually grown to trust over four generations" and the Monongahela Metal Foundry, where you can purchase extra shiny Monongahela Metal Ingots. The subject of their radio serial "Garish Summit" was the Murchfield Lead Mines.
These exist mostly as waybill destinations, though.
Lee
Route of the Alpha Jets www.wmrywesternlines.net
The Simpsons has featured a number of clever company names, but they're usually stores and not online industries.
I personally prefer a more subtle approach. I've been toying with the idea of building a modern industrial district switching layout, and am looking at industry names mostly taken from sci-fi movies. Weyland-Utani, Omni Consumer Products, Veridian Dynamics, etc. I've also pulled a few obscure names from pop culture (Leiand-Baxter Paper Company) and a few in-jokes (Halford Steel).
Not all novelty industry names need to appear on the layout itself. Some can be shippers or consignees on waybills-- thus easilty changed if the novelty wears off. Simply a job for your railroad's traffic management and developmnent office.
I had a peanut butter plant, Dixie Darlin, on my East Texas railroad that received most of its peanuts from NEW ACES FARMS in South Central Texas (a prototypically suitable source of peanuts). The Spanish word for nuts is nueces (pronounced pretty much like "New Aces."
But for blending purposes, Dixie Darlin got an occasional shipment of Georgia peanuts from Kennedy-Butler Enterprises in Tara, Georgia. For those of you who remember your Gone with the Wind trivia, Kennedy and Butler were two of the married names of Scarlett O'Hara.
Dixie Darlin shipped peanut butter to several grocery chains and distributors. One on the Louisiana-Texas border in the bayou country was BUY-OWE CREDIT GROCERS. (Buy-Owe>> Bayou)
My East Texas layout did not have a petroleum refiner nor a fabrication plant for making refinery reactor vessels. But it was a through route for infrequent shipments of fractionating towers on heavy-duty flatcars, such as those manufactured by TOTAL FABRICATION. "If it exists only via staging, it's a Total Fabrication !"
shayfan84325 My layout serves Spock's Wingnuts (bigger ears-better grip; the logical choice), and the Stave Brothers' Cooperage (barrel factory). I also know of a real life dentist named Dr. Payne, and a dermatologist named Katherine Calis. My opinion is that on a model railroad subtlety is the key, and that such names must not seem "forced." I think that John Allen's Gorre and Daphetid sound believable as names of western towns. Many Rocky Mountain towns were named after European fur trappers and other explorers/pioneers. Laramie, Sublette, and Dubois, Wyoming are all "westernized" French names, for example. Gorre and Daphetid sound like they could be westernized European surnames, too.
My layout serves Spock's Wingnuts (bigger ears-better grip; the logical choice), and the Stave Brothers' Cooperage (barrel factory).
I also know of a real life dentist named Dr. Payne, and a dermatologist named Katherine Calis.
My opinion is that on a model railroad subtlety is the key, and that such names must not seem "forced." I think that John Allen's Gorre and Daphetid sound believable as names of western towns. Many Rocky Mountain towns were named after European fur trappers and other explorers/pioneers. Laramie, Sublette, and Dubois, Wyoming are all "westernized" French names, for example. Gorre and Daphetid sound like they could be westernized European surnames, too.
Don't forget though, John Allen grew tired of the G&D's name, and couldn't get it out of MRR lingo to save his life.
-Morgan
I don't have a pic of it and it borders on the dirty side, but there is a small community grocery store near here run by two India Indians, who used their initials to title it. I laugh every time I go by it:
The "S & M Deli " store.
{makes me wonder what they sell?}
Then there is the funeral home:
Mort U. Airy, Funeral Home Director. { "you stab em, we slab em"}.
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
In the late '60s there was a place up in Marin County, Calif on SR1 headed for Bodega Bay called Chicken Out; it was somewhere in the vicinity of Stinson Beach if I remember correctly. Anyway this place had a sign out front which said "Come in and Chicken Out."
I understand that there is now a chain with that name in the Washington D. C. area.
From the far, far reaches of the wild, wild west I am: rtpoteet
As someone who named their imaginary railroad the F&A, you know I'm not taking things all that seriously.
My Arkansas born stepdad pronounced the bowel movement enhancing powder "Madame Mucil."
So, naturally, I planned very early in life to have an industry along the Ferrago & Aquandary, complete with a siding on which some heavily weathered tank cars were always waiting, to ship outbound the output of "Madame Mucil's Enematorium."
I was thinking about the Soylent Green Food Processing Company. The engine house and offices for the Port Able Railway will be 22 Twain Street (Two Two Twain Street).
__________________________________________________________________
Mike Kieran
Port Able Railway
I just do what the majority of the voices in my head vote on.
Jamis My favorite Armstrong (I think) company was the Thrust & Perry Fence Company. I recall seeing it in MR in the late '60s. In our town there is a Urologist by the name of Richard Tapper. Really!
My favorite Armstrong (I think) company was the Thrust & Perry Fence Company. I recall seeing it in MR in the late '60s.
In our town there is a Urologist by the name of Richard Tapper. Really!
There are two eye doctors in Fresno, CA (Father/Son?) by the names of Dr. Gary Fogg and Dr. Steven Fogg.
Wayne
Modeling HO Freelance Logging Railroad.
Being a big Yes fan Rick , I really liked the law firm name. I am working on a 1/25 scale model now that will be named after a popular segment of the Red Green Show on PBS Rothschilds Sewer and Septic Sucking Services. - when you're tank overflows, I'll be there with my hose. Or possibly -- when doody calls.......Mike
Phil, I'm not a rocket scientist; they are my students.
Out in Missouri, there's a town with two water towers. One says "Hot". The Other "Cold".
One of my favorite road signs around here is a small side street names Cemetery Road. The highway department, with a straight face I'm sure, made sure to post the Dead End sign right below the street sign.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
My full scale favorites are two parallel streets in Rapid City, SD (Sum Place and Kno Place) and the county I used to live in, just west of Nashville, TN
Just off Roberts Shore Rd in Liberty, ME, is a Goah Way and there's a Dyer Straits that intersects with Rte 3 between Palermo and South China.
Andre
The Big Fork & Diehl RR could not escape having some punny business and industry names.
Furzenloser Fuels (The Blue Flame folks - around here, if you small gas, it's probably Furzenlosers) can be found on Mike Tylicks public domain collection:
http://www.trainweb.org/tylick/signpuin.htm
Another one is Joe Kennier Chicken, Poultry Processors. And Kenworthy Yard (named for my maternal grandfather, Wabash passenger engineer George Kenworthy) is watched over by KY tower, naturally.
One of my favorite real fruit crate labels, for Buxom Melons, can be found here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/78469770@N00/278045138/
Jamis My favorite Armstrong (I think) company was the Thrust & Perry Fence Company. I recall seeing it in MR in the late '60s.
Thrust and Parry was a Terry Walsh business, as were the Barque and Knotts Lumber Company and the Laydee-Zunder Warehouse.
My full scale favorites are two parallel streets in Rapid City, SD (Sum Place and Kno Place) and the county I used to live in, just west of Nashville, TN.
Chuck (Former Cheatham County resident modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Jim - Preserving the history of the NKP Cloverleaf first subdivision.
While reading through vsmith's delphiforum link I was reminded of a sign I observed while on a bus tour during the 2005 national convention in Cincinnati. I jabbed my wife in the ribs and pointed to the sign on the window of an optometrist's office; it read: ASKMEIF EYE CARE!
I have been into scratchbuilding structures for quite a few years now and I, therefore, have had to create my own signage for my businesses. I visited an N-Scale layout at San Jose in 2000 -- this layout had been featured in the hobby press a few years before; the brass hat of this pike had built quite a few plastic commercial kits and as I examined them it dawned on me that he was using only the commercial signs that came with these kits. It got real funny when he was using the same name for buildings in the same block of downtown. When I got back home I hunted up the magazine that had featured this guy's layout and, sure-enough, there were these structures with all of the commercial signs attached.
Unfortunately some modelers don't appear to have a great deal of imagination in some circumstances. I don't remember the name that Atlas used to put on their depot (Arlee?) -- I don't even know whether that thing is still in production or not -- but I can't even remember the number of Arlee depots I've viewed on N-Scale layouts over the years. This is even true when the rail's control panel might call the town Smithville.
Heres my contribution
Always to be remembered, from my first youthful 1963 cross-country trip to California, during the Interstate construction phase -- The identical & nameless business name:
Eat here! Get gas!
Conemaugh Road & Traction circa 1956
There used to be a coffee shop on US Rte 1A in Prospect, ME called The Stone Doughnut
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
There's a store in Woodstock, NY called Chez Cheese.
not industry, but...
possum lodge
dewey cheatum & howe, curl up and dye
acme rocket co.
African swallow air freight co
Miracle furniture & mel brooks double feature
The Codfather fish and chips
C. F. Eyecare
Boris's Car Loft (Used Cars)
Luft-waffles Cafe
Curl Up & Dye
These may find there way onto my new layout
More here:
http://people.delphiforums.com/flatbushskp/funnybusiness.html
Have fun with your trains
rrinker Being a big fan of the group Yes, I thought I should have a law office on my layout named Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman & Howe, since everyone alway said it sounded more like a law firm than a musical group. Of course they aren't the best attorneys in town - that belongs to the classic Dewey, Cheatum & Howe. --Randy
Being a big fan of the group Yes, I thought I should have a law office on my layout named Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman & Howe, since everyone alway said it sounded more like a law firm than a musical group. Of course they aren't the best attorneys in town - that belongs to the classic Dewey, Cheatum & Howe.
I prefer Robb, Swindell, and Cheatham!
I'm hoping Classic Metal Works releases, or re-releases, trucks decorated for A. Duie Pyle - a southeastern Pa. classic!
They've been around since the '20s.
I wish I was a headlight
On a northbound train
IMHO, here's a link to one of the best threads on this subject.
Disclaimer: Warning, some of the content you read may cause you to laugh! I especially liked the 11th and 13th posts on page two
http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/forums/p/34133/435724.aspx#435724
"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"
rogertra The problem with novelty names is that the novelty soon wears off. John Allen is reported to have said he wished he'd never chosen the novelty name of "Gorre and Daphetid Railroad" for his railroad as the novelty soon wore off. His problem was that the G&D became famous as the G&D so he was kind of stuck with the name.
The problem with novelty names is that the novelty soon wears off.
John Allen is reported to have said he wished he'd never chosen the novelty name of "Gorre and Daphetid Railroad" for his railroad as the novelty soon wore off. His problem was that the G&D became famous as the G&D so he was kind of stuck with the name.
That may be true for the railroad, but industry or business names are a different breed of cat. I personally know of two "Curl Up And Dye" hair salons on two different coasts. Funny business names abound.
How about this place? http://tinyurl.com/6bzpua5
Mobile dog groomer: http://www.doggystylemobilegroomingspa.com/
Restaurant and pub: http://www.99bottles.com/
Seafood restaurant: http://www.dirtydickscrabs.com/ordereze/intro1.html
Real Estate Office: http://www.shrealty.com/ Presumably Schmidt-Haus Realty specializes in brick domiciles.
Maker of various construction products: http://www.putzmeister.com/cps/rde/xchg/pm_holding/hs.xsl/index_ENU_HTML.htm
Chimney sweep service company: http://ashwipe.com/
Vietnamese/Thai Restaurant: http://pleated-jeans.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/pho-shizzle.jpeg
NOTE: There's a couple of Vietnamese restaurants I can't link to because I'm not sure the links wouldn't get this pulled.
Canadian scaffolding company: http://www.mammotherection.com/home.htm This one may go too far,
And it wasn't just an SNL comedy routine: http://www.schwettyballs.com/
Mind you, these are real businesses and people are paying real money for their goods and/or services.