Authored by noted hobby historian Keith Wills, who wrote the “Collector’s Consist” column in Railroad Model Craftsman for a remarkable 32 years, American O Scale 1927-1965 tells the story of O scale from its tinplate roots through its divergence into scale trains.

Printed on high-quality coated paper, this perfect-bound softcover publication chronicles O scale from the early pioneers like Alexander, Icken and Cronkite through the more familiar Lobaugh, All-Nation, Kemtron and Central Locomotive Works, to the most obscure like Acme, Hines, Hawk and many more!

This comprehensive volume follows all the O scale manufacturers, their locomotives and rolling stock from the beginning of scale quarter-inch trains in the late 1920s through the decline of the 1960s. Included is a chapter on the Wm. K Walthers O Scale catalogs; a vital resource for the O scale modeler from the beginnings of the Great Depression through the present.

With the resurgence of O scale and its continued popularity, no current O scale modeler, anyone who got their start in the hobby via Lionel or Marx, or any modeler with an interest in hobby history will want to miss this inclusive new book. Profusely illustrated with vintage catalog pages, magazine ads and model photos, the book includes the following chapters:

Chapter 1: 1927-1941, The Heady Pioneer Years

Chapter 2: The Beginning of Dynamic Growth

Chapter 3: 1946 - 1950: Early Postwar Years: Renewed Energy

Chapter 4: 1950-1965: The Declining Years

Chapter 5: 1927-1941: Early Rolling Stock

Chapter 6: 1950-1965: Postwar Rolling Stock

Chapter 7: Electric Traction

Chapter 8: Post 1965 Walthers O Scale Catalogs

O scale standard and narrow gauge modeling continues to be the scale of choice for thousands of US and Canadian modelers and American O Scale 1927-1965 traces the history of both familiar and long-forgotten O scale model lines.