Nason models in general are characterized by the use of many sand cast bronze parts and are very much in the style of O scale models of the period.
Locomotives
Locomotive kits were available in three versions, ranging from un-machined, rough castings to complete kits; all were sand-cast bronze.
- 2-8-0, Reading, introduced in 1937
- 4-6-4, NYC (introduced two years before the famous Lionel OO Hudson in 1936)
- 4-4-2, PRR. The 4-4-2 was originally produced in 1937 by Star-Continental Models of Brooklyn and is a freelance version of the PRR K-4 and K-5 Pacific but built as an Atlantic
- PRR P5-A electric (perhaps their signature model, introduced in 1934)
- New Haven boxcab electric switcher (which was, curiously, always marketed as a diesel).
Nason passenger cars were produced in two styles. The first models introduced in 1934 had cast aluminum sides, ends, and floors. Models of this design included:
- PRR P-70 coach
- PRR PB-70 combine
- 12 section Pullman,
- All-service express car.
- PRR P-70 coach
- PRR PB-70 combine
- PRR diner
- PRR postal
- 12 section Pullman
- Observation.
Freight cars
And they made freight cars too! The line included:
- Sand cast steel boxcar
- Steel boxcar with printed cardstock sides
- PRR X-31 automobile car
- Wood or steel reefer with printed sides
- Flat car
- PRR (and B&O) gondola
- Wood caboose (with card sides).
The reefers and boxcars with printed sides were marketed as "Easy-Bilt" models. These were introduced in late 1935 and were ground breaking models for the time. All of the printed side cars were were made for Nason by the O gauge manufacturer Westbrook, who produced the same models in O gauge. As a result, many of the OO sides still have their "W" codes (W-26, etc.) related to Westbrook production. For more see this article.
The following list is my current list of their printed side cars; the numbers preceding the listings of boxcars and reefers is the catalog number for that model. If you know more of the printed car numbers do be in touch; for some models clearly as many as three different car numbers were produced.
Box cars and Reefers:
1 Reefer, 40', wood, MDT 16640, 3135, 3309
2 Reefer, 40', wood, FGEX 34328, 35757
3 Reefer, 40', wood, SFRD 17421, 17963
4 Box car, 40', PRR 103514, 568687
5 Automobile car, PRR X-31 69572, 69671
6 Reefer, 40', wood, PFE, SP herald
7 Reefer, 40', wood, WFEX
8 Reefer, 40', wood, ARLX/Armour's Star Pure Lard 12945
9 Box car, 40', B&O 281133, 280096, 278842
10 Box car, 40', NYC 96875, 97123, 97488
11 Reefer, 40', wood, DICX 117
12 Reefer, 40', wood, SRLX/Swift Premium Ham
13 Reefer, 40', wood, URTX/Milwaukee 90983, 95706, 89422
14 Reefer, 40', wood, PFE, WP herald, 51201
15 Reefer, 40', wood, NWX 84021
16 Box car, 40', SP 22573
17 Box car, 40', UP 237136
18 Reefer, 40', wood, BPDX, Borden's Fine Cheese 12037
19 Reefer, 40', wood, MDT, NYC herald
20 Box car, 40', Erie 57037, 59156
21 Box car, 40', CP 240037
22 Box car, 40', wood, UP (1939 cat.—probably misprint)
22 Box car, 40', wood, NP 12838, 12968 (1940 cat.)
23 Box car, 40', Southern 12842, 12756
24 Reefer, 40', wood, ART Crazy Crystals
Flat car, 40'
B&O 10638C&NW 42597, 42574
Gondola
B&O 250538
PRR 397036
And more
In addition they sold track supplies and other items of use to OO gaugers of the time including very early on a pair of cast aluminum structure kits.
At the beginning of the article two business partners were mentioned. Reader Andrew Meyers found in his collection a letter dated October 1, 1955 to Major McCoid from Myron Davis that outlines the ownership changes. The original partner Frank Waldhorst dropped out of the firm fairly early and Hugh Nason was then the sole owner for a time. However, about 1940 Cyrus Miller purchased half interest, and then about a year later Miller bought out Nason's half as well. Miller then sold the firm to Edward Kelly who owned the firm by late 1946. According to Davis, Miller was never paid by Edward Kelly who died in 1952. Quoting Davis in the letter, "I got what I have from Kelly and he sold the Atlantic locomotive to Jerome Foster [of Guild of the Iron Horse]." More on that that model (and the Nason 4-4-2) here.
In short, after WWII Nason attempted to resume production and clearly had some big plans, but only boxcar, reefer, and caboose kits were actually sold, in addition to various parts (especially for the 2-8-0, some of which found their way into early On3 models). The last Nason price list I know of may be seen in this article, and their advertising ends in 1947 except for one final ad in 1950. Myron Davis marketed some Nason products on his own later, including the P5-A and the sand cast boxcar and passenger cars (more information on Davis here). And as noted already Guild sold an Atlantic, but the model he ultimately produced actually owes very little to the original Nason/Star-Continental design.
As a leading and long time maker of OO many of their models are fairly common but still desirable, especially so their locomotives, and other models are only rarely seen or only rarely seen in good condition. This is a line the American OO enthusiast needs to be familiar with.
For More Information
Updated 2019
2 comments:
Found an example of the SRLX/Swift Premium Ham reefer, it is numbered 15038.
One more roadname for the list: Wood Reefer, "White Rock Water, Waukesha Wis.", URTX 55048.
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