It’s interesting knowing some of these behind the scenes facts, about the actual individuals who pushed to get specific models into production. It makes owning some of the resulting models a little more fun, like having a little piece of history. And it makes some of the inaccuracies a little more understandable.
I know in model car production, a number of Characters went to great lengths and even did some bizarre things to get some models produced. And I’ve read about the actual designers of the models (ever heard of Bob Paeth?), real model enthusiasts, butting heads with the bean counters over quality vs cost.
For what it’s worth, the only Rivsarossi I was ever satisfied with for how it ran, and I had my share, was the Heisler. And that was only after adding contacts for all wheel pickup.
Well, Yes, here’s their site IHC Hobby.
BUT…(there’s always a but with IHC), are they only selling NIB Old Stock? I see some obvious Model Power and even Eko vehicles for sale - so is this incarnation contracting out for new production? I doubt it, but I really can’t say for certain.
My copy of the July MR just wandered in today, and you are correct, pg 43.
Wouldn’t mind if IHC-Hobby (Texas) sold the IHC interiors (at reasonable prices), back in the day a little cutting, fitting, and painting and they looked good enough buried in IHC coaches and even Athearn shorties. Didn’t see any listed under Passenger Cars - Accessories.
What I did to my Y6b was to buy a worm gear with greater pitch that would fit a can motor and then I made a bracket and epoxed it to the frame and used two small screws, I also made two holes to fit the can and bent and adjusted it until meshed and moved the can up and down in the slots. It isn’t that hard to do, I just looked at a newer engine and got the idea from them. I hope this helps.
Seem to recall, that AHM of Philadelphia, PA., went bankrupt in the late 1970’s then resurfaced as International Hobbies Corporation of Philadelphia.
The AHM line of locomotives, freight and passenger cars came from Yugoslovia and Austria at one point and the building kits came from Denmark.
The vendors supplying the goods would change from time to time as who could produce to specifications at expected cost to AHM. In other words, a group of manufactuers in European Countries would “Bid” on the work for AHM.
Then when the European manufacturers could not produce at what AHM would pay, then they went to Far East Countries, soliciting bids to produce the goods.
Possibly some other readers, may have current details on the current production and where abouts of the tooling of the old AHM line.
Ive aquired a small fleet of the newer (AHM) Rivarossi 4-4-0’s with RP-25 wheels and better tender motors. Does anyone know what kind of replacement tires will work?
FYI (contrary to some opinions in this discussion): I have an old box from a train set purchased back in the 1970s - labeled: “American Hobby Manufacturers, Inc. - Phila., Pa.” As the box I have has seen some hard usage, I would like to find another source for the layout (with 22 stock items described) pictured on the back of this box; but I’m not sure if anything better than what I already have is still available?
I remember for a time in the early 80s the parent company was called “Regal Way”-the product was still AHM, they came out with a line of snap-together buildings which included fast-food outlets like Burger King, Pizza Hut, and Baskin-Robbins, along with a 7up bottling plant (with underscale doors).
I myself have a question about AHM. I just purchased an AHM 4-8-8-4 Big Boy # 5114-B on the box and paid $130.00 for it. Would you say that is too much?
I’m glad this thread is still with us. As time goes by I am drawn more and more to the old AHM/Rivarossi items I come across at train shows and eBay. I’m sure it is because my first steamer was an 0-8-0 Indiana Harbor Belt I bought when I was 10, and those Woolworth sales every year allowed me to have much fun with my paper route money, and kept me out of trouble. I just subscribed to a new publication called HO Collector that showcases AHM and other HO train builders of the past, looking forward to receiving the first copy. One other thing, don’t throw out that outdated computer optical drive until you harvest the disc drawer drive motor. I put one in a Rivarossi Milwaukee Road Heavy Pacific from 1975, along with a TCS decoder, and it is one of the best running locos I have. In fact, it has a slower starting speed than even a modern Broadway Limited locomotive!
Ollie’s is finally making its way into the South. There is one in Cordele, Georgia that I stop into from time to time. Have not found any trains, but they have dirt-cheap prices on some of the stuff needed to build layouts.
I’m glad to see these comments, as I’ve often popped into threads talking about passenger cars to point out that - contrary to what many folks seem to think - IHC passenger cars are not the same as the yellow/blue box AHM or later maroon box Rivarossi cars. Their appearance is different, and interiors made for IHC don’t fit AHM/Rivarossi cars.
So funny that 20 years later the quest continues to find out where AHM went…although the answer was posted in the very first reply also 20 years ago. [(-D]