Does anyone have any information on the Roller Bearing Models company? Like their history, etc. Much appreciated.
Welcome to the Forum.
Your question piqued my curiosity so I had a look through the 75-year Model Railroader Collection.
Thie following is just the advertising history of the Roller Bearing Model Co, of Livingston, New Jersey in the Model Railroader magazine.
Started regular monthly advertising March 73 until February 76 then every second month until Jan 77, a hiccup (?) then April, May, and June 77, the June 77 being the last ad.
The majority of their ads were small, the first ad being for a 65-foot undecorated gondola kit, less the trucks and couplers.
By March 74, Roller Bear Models were advertising a 60’ Trailer Train Flats, 50’ Panther Creek Airside Hopper, the gondola kit and plastic coal loads for Athearn twin and quad hoppers.
In Dec 76, coal loads for Lionel twin hoppers, new and old; and coal and Gravel loads for Roundhouse HO scale triple hoppers were introduced.
Their kits appear to have plastic, wood, and cast metal parts, without trucks, and couplers.
The first larger ad was in the August 76 Model Railroader, (I’ve taken the liberty of cutting it in half for better clarity.
Roller Bearing Model Aug 76 by Bear, on Flickr
This second ad is in the May 77 MR.
Hope this helps,
Cheers, the Bear.