I loved using Smith & sons ballast but can’t seem to find it any more does anyone know if they are still in business or not? Same goes with AMI roadbed, I know a lot of people didn’t care for it but I liked using it in certain parts s of the layout and even used to use it for making gravel roads and such but can’t seem to find that either, has it also gone by the way side?
I don’t know about the ballast, but AMI has been out of business for many years now.
Someone gave our club an old, partial roll of AMI roadbed several years ago. I found it to be absolutely worthless as roadbed for track, but did use it for an automobile roadway by stretching it sideways and coating the top with dry ceramic tile grout to eliminate the stickiness.
Maybe this will help; no website so you have to call or write.
Smith And Son Ballast
Owners: Harley & Dale Smith
13630 GAR Highway (Rt. 6)
Chardon OH 44024
Phone: 440-286-4890
Alan
What!? No website? I’d have to talk to an actual person? Are we still allowed to do that?
lol
mononguy
An e-mail address would be nice, but refreshing that people still want the personal touch (much more interactive that way).
I believe Scenic Express Ballast is still sourcing their natural rock/dirt ballast from Smith And Sons, at least this was the case about 6 months ago. I ordered several different varieties and they all came in the labeled as Smith and Sons, and I agree, good stuff.
Geared
Maybe I missed it, but SE doesn’t seem to be carrying the product at the moment.
Smith & Son will sell direct anyway.
Doc you didn`t miss anything Harley does not do business with SE any more only direct through him. I defy anyone to tell me who makes better ballast and CHEAPER cost. I just bought 35 lbs of his product (ballast, cinders coal etc and I had the product in 2 1/2 weeks. He is so down to earth that he shiped the ballast with the bill in the product without my first paying for it. It is also very clean with no dust in it.As far as the contact info goes that is right but he goes by the name of Smith Ballast now leaving off the son part.
Thanks for the info, when I originally ordered it from SE, it was not labeled Smith & Sons in the catalog or online, I just ordered it based on the products picture. When I received it it was the S & S stuff. I like it alot, nothing looks like dirt like…dirt!.
I had read on another forum that he recently purchased some equipment that enabled him to start producing N-scale ballast, I would hope he gets a website presence in the future, if not for convenience but so a person can see what he is buying.
AMI Roadbed… I mentioned this years ago on this forum that it is basically automotive AC insulation tape and cost the same as AMI did at the time. I used it on my last layout when I was automotive mechanicing because I got it cheap. It was sticky,pliable, and could be moved to adjust to your track laying as needed and quiet.
Smith & Sons Ballast still in business at that address. I understand that Harley passed away this spring, but sone Dale is still running things in same manner as his dad, asme address and phone #. Excellent ballast, cinders, gravel and coal, screened to various sizes. - Jim, July, 2017
Since they don’t seem to have an online presence, do they advertise anywhere or is this simply a word of mouth business? Most of the hits on a google search are older than this thread.
Nothing wrong with an old fashioned business, but this is a niche business in a niche hobby. I don’t understand how customers find them if all they have to go on is a 9 year old thread.
Reality is that there are those of us who model rather obscure prototypes (like 1900 in coastal Oregon). And there are dedicated souls who supply some of the needs for the truly niche modelers. These folks don’t get anywhere near enough business to pay somebody to design a web page and secure shopping cart, host the website, maintain it, and/or create the necessary business-to-bank relationships to accept credit cards at a reasonable rate.
But I am very thankful that I can call them or write them, mail them a check (a few take PayPal), and my heart’s desire will be delivered to my door in a couple of months. Yes, it is word of mouth. These are not full time jobs, and there isn’t money for advertising. Yet most of these small suppliers have enough business that they spend their evenings making stuff for their customers instead of working on their own layout. Some of the better hobby shops - the old Caboose Hobbies was known for this - would seek out these small suppliers and order a fair quantity for stock.
And because of this thread, you know about Smith and Sons most excellent ballast - without even doing a web search.
Fred W
…modeling foggy coastal Oregon in HO and HOn3, where it’s always 1900…