Now that I have the MR archive, I don’t need to keep old physical copies of the magazine around.
The local library already has a subscription, so no need to donate my old ones there.
What’s the best way to pass them on to someone who can make use of them? Maybe find a person who already sells old copies at local train shows and work out a deal with them?
Not quite what you’re looking for, but one thing I’ve done with my old RMC’s is cut out the articles that pertain to my interests, and sort them into binders by subject. This is a huge help in getting to an article for a specific project, or ones I check frequently. I recycle what I don’t keep.
You may want to check with any LHS you may have as they do sell them. Perhaps a local school, or an indoor flea market would take them too.
(Haven’t gotten up the courage to cut up my larger MR collection yet :))
I do the same, but instead of a physical binders, I use Microsoft OneNote (to take screen clippings of either Zinio or MR Archive articles that apply to my projects). Since the OneNote software is available free of charge on all devices, not only do I have my my research available everywhere I go, but the text in all of the images is searchable making it easy to find JUST what I’m looknig for in an instant.
I can also add info using the free Office Lens app to, for example, take a photo of a plaque at a museum and add it to my research. This is also a good way to collaborate with other modelers since it makes it easy to share info with friends and see who contributed what info.
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You may want to check with any LHS you may have as they do sell them. Perhaps a local school, or an indoor flea market would take them too.
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Yeah, I do have a LHS that sells old copies. Beats recycling them outright. A lot of my old copies are in MR binders too. 
After many years I recycled just about all my model railroad magazines. I was afraid of being buried under a huge pile.
Trash companies now recycle in my area.
I tried to give them to a friend some years ago who buys and sells at shows but he did not want them. A few boxes of magazines are quite heavy to haul around to shows and back home.
I had some dating back to around 1950.
Local library did not want them. Another local library does the same. In fact, many I bought from the local library that would sell off periodicals after a few years for ten cents each. Mostly MRR. Magazine. Some RMC also.
A sign of the times.
Tried Facebook in my area and no one wanted them.
This question does pop up here every so often.
Rich
Local school, votech, etc… might be interested in them.
Community centers, doctors and dentists offices, and youth club groups, are a couple other ideas.
I take a few with me and leave them in doctors offices. Never know it might peak someones interest.
Why, I’ve been using paper rather than lighter fluid to fire up the Weber for Years!
(Newspaper so far, but…)
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Weber-Rapidfire-Chimney-Charcoal-Starter-7416/100657893
Donate them to nursing homes. Residents are always looking for something new to read.
Steve S
Joe’s idea works great. My wife is a podiatrist MA, and she takes them into the office with her. They seem to vanish quite quickly. The senior doctor in the practice also likes trains, and takes his pick first.
Mike.
Sure beats the usual reading matter found in medical/dental venues. One reason I always carry my own.
Want to see some strange expressions? Check the lady sitting opposite you as she realizes that the magazine with pretty pictures is printed in Japanese…
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - between medical appointments)
I keep all my paper issues* even with the digital archives. Some of the scans in the DVD and/or archive were not in my opinion done particularly well - some of the scale drawings in particular those that cover more than one page or were a fold out are difficult to use in the on-screen format.
Plus sometimes on a pleasant day I just like to take a volume of MR outside and read for a few hours. My eyes find it easier to read for long time periods off of paper than off of a screen anyway. Or if I am working on a project that is covered by multiple issues – say for example diode matrix control of switch motors/ machines on a yard ladder. Ditto for articles that are multi-part over several issues or even volumes. I’d go nuts trying to toggle between the archived various issues of MR that have addressed this issue, and by contrast it is easy to just lay all the relevant issues side by side on the work surface and check and double check them.
And you just never know what might happen. Websites change or go away or become frustrating to use.
Dave Nelson
*Edited post: I have MR in paper solid from the present day back to 1948, and sporadic issues back to 1934. 1934 is a bound volume reprint that MR sold for many years. This is in addition to Trains magazine in paper from the present back to around 1980, with sporadic issues (some years complete) back to 1948, all issues ever published of the North Western Lines quarterly magazine of the C&NW Historical Society, and an ample selection of Railroad/Railfan, RMC, and various other modeling and historical society magazines. I won’t deny it is getting to be a rather daunting storage issue.
I agree with Dave, they can use them to cover my casket . . . I’m taking them with me, binders and all.
I recycled all of my older issues because I was running out of space. I had been in the habit of putting Post-It notes on the edges of the pages with articles that I intended to refer back to, but I rarely went back to them so I figured the hard copies were a waste of space.
Dave
Wow, sounds like there are a lot of people trying to get rid of em…
I’ll take donations [;)]
(Im interested in the Nov 2011, and all 2012 issues…)
[:P]
Charles
That’s a great idea. Those who want to dispose of old copies could give them to those who want old copies. Maybe we could start a thread (I don’t believe that there any restrictions on giving things away on the forums but, Steven, please correct me if I am wrong.) The biggest problem would be shipping costs. Shipping a few issues wouldn’t be too bad, but shipping a huge stack of magazines would be expensive.
Dave
I kept all the articles I could find on John Allen and took everything else to the large recycling dumpsters in the next town and county over. Our city and the county is to cheap to have a place to take you recyclables to!!! Well for all my efforts and trouble, the dogs ruined the magazines for me… Gusee I really didn`t need them.
Just as long as the actual transactions are handled via PM. No need to clutter up the Forums with posts of private interest.
I’ve been looking for some of the beer line issues or virginian project year if anyone has those to give away, I would sign up for the online archive or buy the back issues but being 14 have a limited budget. The whole thread idea seems liek a good idea to though even if no one has the ones I am looking for.
You might consider contacting a local club that has a layout that is open to the public. Our club/historical society has a museum and layout which is open to the public every weekend. We give kids copies of magazines to take home with them after their visit with hopes of attracting their interest in the hobby.
That’s exactly what we do at our Club. It’s a win-win. We introduce them to the hobby, the parents appreciate our kindness and the kids are elated with the new ‘treasure’. The Members also free up space in our train rooms and dens. The kids almost certainly return for more.
Len S