INDUSTRY NEWS Belington, West Virginia: B.T.S., a manufacturer, importer and publisher of model railroad supplies has purchased Babbitt Railway Supply. The acquisition includes the tooling, fixtures, inventory and rights to manufacturer the Babbitt line of six O scale kits for steam locomotives that feature cast bronze boilers, NWSL gearing, cast aluminum or sheet brass tenders, and brass and white metal details. Gordon Varney began the line shortly after WWII with the introduction of an O scale 4-6-0 steam locomotive kit. General Models Corporation purchased the line from Varney and added more locomotives before selling it to All Nation. The steam locomotive portion of the line was later sold to George Sennhauser of Babbitt, Minnesota, who renamed the brand and added a 4-8-2 to the catalog. Boyce Yates acquired the company in 1993 and expanded it to the present selection of six locomotives. B.T.S. owner Bill Wade plans torejuvenate the Babbitt line and add the full assortment of products to the B.T.S on-line catalog. Dummerston, Vermont: Banta Modelworks has put the S scale portion of its extensive line of structure kits up for sale. Interested parties (serious inquires only please) should contact Bill Banta at 802-258-3869. Montoursville, Pennsylvania: Friends and family celebrated the 90th birthday of Shirlee English who, with her 92 year old husband Lew (left), own Bowser Manufacturing. Known originally as English’s Model Railroad Supply, the business name was changed following the 1961 purchase of Bowser of Riverside. Other model railroad businesses the English family has acquired over the years include Penn Line Company, Pittman Motors, Pennsylvania Scale Models, Selley Finishing Touches, Cal Scale, Cary Locomotive Works, Arbour Models, Stewart Hobbies and tooling for Varney HO locomotives. Although their son Lee, now manages the business, the two elders still report for work daily at the family enterprise. Provo, Utah: Actor and long-time model railroader Gary Coleman passed away May 28 from a brain hemorrhage following an accidental fall. He was 42 years old. Coleman was best known for his work during the 1970s and 1980s on the hit TV Page 31 • Issue 8 • Jul/Aug 2010 • Old Yardmaster - Industry scuttlebutt, page 10
show Diff’rent Strokes in which he starred, eventually earning up to $100,000 per episode. He was an avid model train enthusiast and was a regular at many west coast train meets and conventions. Several years ago he was featured on the cover of Railroad Model Craftsman magazine. Coleman enjoyed hanging out at hobby stores and for a time worked at Caboose Hobbies in Denver. Born in Zion, Illinois, Coleman’s diminutive size was the result of congenital kidney disease. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Bernie Paul, a pioneer in the model railroad hobby industry, passed away here on June 19. He had been suffering from poor health for the past year. Mr. Paul was best known for establishing Associated Hobby Manufacturing (AHM) and International Hobby Corporation (IHC). Both firms specialized in importing AHM and IHC branded products from various overseas sources including Rivarossi, Mehano and Roco. IHC, established in the mid-1980s following the bankruptcy of AHM, has been inactive in recent months. Victor, Montana: Precision Scale Company (PSC) Inc., an importer of brass locomotives and rolling stock and a major supplier of detail parts to hobbyists and overseas manufacturers of brass models, has expanded its selection of superdetailing parts with the purchase of the tools, masters and inventory of PIA/PFM (Precision Investment Associates/Pacific Fast Mail). PSC owner Mark Mogensen said the new items have been identified and blended into PSC’s existing line of parts, however, customers may also order under the old PIA numbering system. For more information visit www.precisionscaleco.com. Long Beach, California: Recording star and train enthusiast Stevie Wonder visited the Woodland Scenics exhibit booth during the Worlds Greatest Hobby Show. Happily posing with Stevie are Woodland Scenics factory representatives Lenzie and Jackie who demonstrated products during the show held recently at the Long Beach Convention Center. Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Michael Stephens has been named vice president of proprietary products at Wm. K. Walthers, Inc. Stephens has a long history in the model railroad business, beginning at the age of 14 while working for a family-owned model train importing business. He later served as vice president of marketing with Kalmbach Publishing before moving to the west coast as president of Athearn Trains. He was most recently with Silvergate Distributors located in San Diego. Walthers president Phil Walthers said that Michael will provide strategic direction for Walthers marketing and brand managers in product selection and development.
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