Re: Manhattan Hobby Shops (was Expanded Subjects)
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Living here in Minnesota. I only ever got to imagine what those stores were like. There were some fairly good sized ones in Minneapolis but nothing like the Manhattan stores, or what I imagined them to be, anyway.
As I indicated in my previous post, I did order some stuff from AHC and also from International Models but it was mostly pre 1967 N scale. I bought 4 Treble-O-Lectric switches once and those had been bought from Montgomery ward by International Models (the boxes still had Ward's catalog numbers on them and I believe I.M. bought out Ward's remaining stock).
I did order my UP Atlas RSC-2 from AHC as soon as I could (in late 1968, I believe).
Doug
In a message dated 8/18/2020 11:49:23 AM Central Standard Time, groups@... writes:
It's hard to believe how many model railroad were in once in Manhattan.? I have been reading chronologically through the Model Railroader DVD and the "Directory of Approved Model Dealers" was pretty extensive!
I'll stick to the ones I've personally visited, though.
First, the one on 5th and 32nd that you're thinking of is Polk's Model Craft Hobbies.? They not only had that flagship store but several branches including one in the Woodbridge Center mall in New Jersey.? They were multi-floor; you'd ride an elevator to the correct stop for your particular hobby.
Second, America's Hobby Center was on 146 West 22nd Street, which was between 7th and 8th Avenue.? In theory you could visit, but it was so oriented to mail order that getting personal service there was... well, let's just say it was easier to mail order.
I can't leave out Madison Hardware, 105 East 23rd Street, actually on the corner of Park Avenue South, not Madison.? They were far, far better known for their extensive stock of Lionel but carried N Scale also.?
And then of course there is the trifecta that once existed between 5th and 6th Avenues on West 45th Street.? (No, it's NOT "Avenue of the Americas," only tourists call 6th Avenue that!)? The longest running shop was the Model Railroad Equipment Corporation, proprietress of which was one Carmen Webster.? It was so unusual to have a woman running a train shop that she appeared on "To Tell The Truth"!? That's the one that was down the basement at 23 West 45th.? Also on that block was The Red Caboose and a third store which I remember being called The Roundhouse but may have had several incarnations.? The Red Caboose still survives as far as I know, having moved from its location across from Model Railroad Equipment into that space.
Ah, memories... including of $1.50 A1G cars...
Cheers,
George (your list-owner)
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