I recently obtained an old brass camelback 0-4-0 Painted B&o #59. It was made by the New One Model, Tokyo Japan. The box says it was sold by the H.O. Train Company, Philadelphia 40,Pa. The model is obviously from the fifty’s or earlier since old style postal zoning is on the box. The tender is a coal style tender. I haven’t tried to run it yet. Any info would be helpfull. I will try to get some pics posted. Thanks
Just what do you wi***o know about it? This rather crude model of a camelback switcher was imported originally by Polk Hobbies of New York, circa 1959. It was sold under the Aristo-Craft banner as well as through HO Train Co. of Philly. The New One Models import line was quite extensive and NOM is today generally classified as the main supplier of locomotives for Polk’s “Aristo-Craft Distinctive Miniatures” product line (see my article about the history of this line in RMC about 15 years ago). The engine is made of brass and zamac (mostly the latter). The model’s appearance varied slightly over the years it was in production. There were a number of road names and minor detailing varied from run to run distinctly enough that one might create a substantial collections of all the possible variants. The original selling price was $9.95 as I recall and it was widely advertised in MR and RMC for some years. Either the first or second shipment of these engines was lost overboard at sea or the ship actually foundered enroute from Japan!
CNJ831
My Aristo Story: It was 1960; I was 11 and I had just gotten my first PFM catalog. I wanted a Sierra more than air to breath. At $60.00, it was too expensive for a train engine (according to my Dad)… I lowered my sights, first a little (NKP Berkshire at $50.00), then more(the C&NW 4-4-2 Atlantic at $29.95). The Ol’ Man seemed amenable to the Atlantic; at the time, we had just sold all my Lionel(ICRR F3ab, C&O SW shifter, two steamers the extruded aluminum pass. set, etc.) to raise money for HO> We built “The Great Eastern Trunk”, a design frpm “101 Plans…”
Well, Christmas came and there it was. I unwrapped it and saw “4-4-2”. Then I saw the picture. It looked like it… Then, “Aristo-Craft”. I was heart-broken. Pop was just a-grinnin’! Then he told me the story. “I was gonna get you that gold one you wanted. But then I saw this one. It looked exactly the same … and it was Painted!” It was also “only $14.95!”
But, I endfed up liking the little Aristo. It was one of the very few that ran well. Later on that year, I bought an Aristo B&O 4-6-0 and a Frisco 4-8-2. Then, two years later, we had finished the layout and my dad announced that we could go ‘pick up that Sierra engine you want…’, but I put it off (and he KNEW he was in trouble…). I had gotten bitten by the narrow-gauge bug (That’ll teach him to take the family to Durango on vacation)… After that On3 C&S 2-6-0, I think HE longed for the Sierra…
In 1999, I got introduced to eBay. I thought, “I wonder if they have a Sierra…” They did, for an even $500.00 bid. Then, I decided to find one of the C&S moguls. I bought one two weeks later. When it arrived, it had, written very school-boyishly, on the inside of the lid, “Jim Snyder, 780 Country Club Dr., Kankakee, IL”. (That’s me…)
I also fell in love with the Seirra that year. Finally got one last year, paid more but the wait made it very nice. Your story is better, but I love my Sierra, though it does not run as well as my BLI.
Ah but think what that Lionel would be worth today! You could pave your driveway in brass Sierras!
Dave Nelson
What Sierra are you talking about? They had/ have many engines. Are you talking about the #38 articulated? If so what year was it made? I reciently purchased one from the 60s PFM at an antique store. Runs well, but VERY noisy. It has the pitman motor that I plan to exchange thru Bowser. (it draws about 3 amps at stall) too much for a decoder. Plan to paint ,remotor & install decoder soon. Jerry