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Hi Everybody--  Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families...

 

Question:  How many of you have ever heard of the late "Bill Hoffman" ??  Do you think that a superb scratch modeler could construct a beautiful O-scale Interurban in one day or less ??  OK-- then just maybe you'll enjoy the following story from my Archives.  Sit back with an Eggnog and ENJOY !!!

 

Cheers.

Ken Shattock (KRK)

OGR

LCCA

BAERA

NRHS

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Bill Hoffman
Master Trolley Builder

William G. ""Bill"" Hoffman was a former resident of San Francisco in the 1940s and early 50s. He was always interested in how other model railroaders built their equipment. I suppose such curiosity is universal, for many modelers who saw his vast collection of interurbans would question him as to how they were built....particularly when they find out how little time he spent on each model. This being the case, I thought it would be of interest if we had Bill discuss some of the methods and materials used in the construction of one of his cars. The car selected is his O-gauge Sacramento Northern interurban # 1009, which may be remembered by some oldtimers as one of the winners in the 1948 MR model contest. Rather than make this a complete construction article, Bill will explain just the methods in which the most interest has been shown.

Basically, his cars were made of wood. He preferred this material because it could be cut cleanly, glued easily and because it was not a conductor of electricity. He says that because he was like a "bull in a china shop" when it came to soldering, he also liked wood because he could attach one piece without the next three coming loose. But, he had to solder the pantograph and it was some job.

The roof, floor, sides and ends were all made up of pieces of wood glued in place with model cement. He liked this adhesive because of its fast-drying qualities and its ability to dry without leaving objectionable excesses visible. Since the quality of wood used had a direct bearing on the appearance of the finished car, he always used a great deal of care in its selection. Before wood of modeling quality was generally available commercially, the material he obtained came from some rather strange sources. The ¼ x 2  3/8" x 16" pine floor, for example, came from the end section of an apple box. The ¾" x 2  9/16" x 16" roof section was cut from an old redwood board. Sides for his SN 1009 were cut from 1/16" basswood obtained from a hobby shop, but other sides were made from thin basswood soaked away from sides of plywood packing cases.

The ends of Bill’s cars were built up piece by piece, right on the cars themselves. The doors were built of seven separate pieces of wood and were made slightly oversize in height, width and thickness. The faces were sanded flat and then the door was trimmed to fit its particular doorway. It took Bill only a "half hour" to make six doors by this method .

On Bill’s "Sacramento Northern" interurbans, Walthers oil-base Pullman green was used for the exterior and a flat boxcar red for the interior. The prototype cars had interiors of stained mahogany and after several tries at stain, Bill found that the boxcar red gave the interior of his cars the perfect shade of color.
While the Pullman green exterior paint was still tacky, Bill would place the gold-leaf "Sacramento Northern" name on the cars using rubber stamps dipped into painters "gold dust" .

The key to operate Bill Hoffman’s many cars were their "flywheels" . Some time in those early years, Bill was fortunate enough to be able to purchase a bunch of war surplus
27 volt,dc Delco gyroscope motors with dynamically balanced flywheels at the staggering price of $ 2.00 each . At 27 volts, they would operate at 10000 rpm, but at 18 volts, they would turn up approximately 3500 rpm---- about the same as an O-scale K&D motor. With a wide-open controller, full speed was not attained until a car traveled 12 to 14 feet. When the current was shut off, a car would coast about 25 feet on level track.
Braking power was via the "Flywheel" . The momentum was great enough so that it was possible to reverse the direction controller and apply short shots of current to bring the car to a realistic stop. A distance of 3 feet was required to bring a car to an "emergency stop", so operating a Bill Hoffman interurban was very similar to operating the real thing.

Small details were always part of Bill’s many cars. The safety rails on the car sides were made of wire. Bill only needed "15 minutes" to make and install all handrails and grab irons, using '‘straight pins" with the heads cut off. Air hoses were made with straight pins covered with push-back wire insulation. Tiny chains kept the hoses from dragging.
Gongs and bells were made from roundhead paper fasteners with the legs cut off.

The pantograph mounting idea came from fellow club member "Elmer Cummings" at EASTBAY. Four of the smallest-size dress snaps were used . The male halves were mounted on the bottom of the pantograph and the female halves on a brass base . When mounted this way, the pan would fall off the car undamaged, if it struck an obstruction.

Bill Hoffman has built "hundreds" of O-scale interurbans in his lifetime. Folks say that he built the "entire roster" of the Sacramento Northern and its predecessor companies such as the Oakland, Antioch & Eastern , the Northern Electric and the San Francisco-Sacramento Railroad (Sacramento "Short Line") . He also built Key System rolling stock as did the late Elmer Cummings. And the famed Pacific Electric was not forgotten either, encompassing dozens and dozens from that company’s extensive roster.

In private life, Bill was a "jewelry designer" . Most evenings found him at the clubroom of EASTBAY in Emeryville operating his prized creations on the great O-scale OA&E trolley layout .

Each of his hundreds of cars were a superb model in their own right and most were prize winners in MR model contests.
How much time was necessary to build just ONE of Bill’s beautiful models ?? Well, consider this fact----- Bill often started building a car from scratch in late morning, finished it—including painting and lettering—the SAME evening .. How many other modelers can do that ?? (grin)

I hope everyone on OGR has enjoyed a little history regarding a great member from the old days at EASTBAY, "Bill Hoffman" …  (Emeryville,CA)

Now let’s take a look back at some of the many cars created by Bill’s own hands .

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HOFFMAN CARS

 

Photo 1. SN 131
Photo 2. SN 200 (Car 200 had a variable resistance in
series with the motor to allow operation on
either 6, 12 or 18 volts,dc...)
Photo 3. SN 201

 

Photo 4. SN 224
Photo 5. Key System 495 (ex-SN 1005)
Photo 6. OA&E 601

 

Photo 7. SN 1007
Photo 8. SN 1009
Photo 9. SN 1009 (Front View)

 

Photo 10. SN 1020
Photo 11. SN 1051
Photo 12. Oakland & Antioch 1204

 

Photo 13. SN 1206
Photo 14. SN 1210
Photo 15. SN Parlor Car "Alabama"

 

Photo 16. SN Parlor-Observation Car "Moraga"

Photo 17. Key System "500" Class Interurban (Wood)

 

To all my friends on OGR--  Your comments are graciously solicited !!

 

KRK

 

 

Hoff131

Hoff200

Hoff201

Hoff224

Hoff495

Hoff601

Hoff1007

Hoff1009

Hoff1009a

Hoff1020

Hoff1051

Hoff1204

Hoff1206

Hoff1210

HoffALABAMA

HoffMoraga

HoffKey500

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Images (17)
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  • Hoff201
  • Hoff224
  • Hoff495
  • Hoff601
  • Hoff1007
  • Hoff1009
  • Hoff1009a
  • Hoff1020
  • Hoff1051
  • Hoff1204
  • Hoff1206
  • Hoff1210
  • HoffALABAMA
  • HoffMoraga
  • HoffKey500
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Even with all the time in the world I wonder how many of us could even build one of those cars.  Nowadays most models are bought not built; sad  because we are supposed to be modellers more than buyers.  I enjoy building cars and structures but then again my pike suffers from neglect......but I do have some unique rolling stock.  But then nobody ever looks at my best models and says, " Wow, Odd-d, did you build that from scratch?"

It's great to read about someone who has his methodology down-pat. How many of us have unfinished projects languishing in boxes hidden away?

My forays into traction were a G-Mark plastic kit with a home-made power truck using an HO motor/gears, a wooden boxcab electric with a filed-down Lionel pantograph on an Atlas switcher chassis, and a roof/sides/floor for a Milwaukee 800 streetcar.

I wonder if I should finish them off? I'm only a couple of decades (minus a day) behind Mr Hoffman.

Hi Don and Everyone..  Thanks for your comments.  Don, Bill Hoffman DID live for awhile in Conneticut. He lived in Whittier, CA.  He lived in San Franciso.  Someone told me that he would up after retirement at ROSS, a retirement community near Walnut Creek, CA.   I'm sure he must have 'passed' by now but I don't know.  What I am VERY curious about is what happened to the hundreds and hundreds of O-scale trolleys and Interurbans he produced so detailed ??  They have to exist SOMEWHERE.  But, I have never heard a word about them.  Strange, huh ?

 

Rather than 1/4" scale, 2-rail...  Bill built his cars to 17/64" to the foot. Makes them a wee bit bigger!  And Leon,  you're right, the cars drew their power from the overhead wire as per the prototype with the rails as common.  The power at the club trolley  wire was a maximum of 18 volts, DC.

 

As a matter of fact, if any of you TRACTION buffs are interested..  I'll tell you the story of one of the largest O-scale traction layouts ever built in the United States. It took up a good chunk out of a nearly 10000 square foot space !

I have ALL the information on it in my Archives.  Photos, track diagram, everything !

BUT, it takes TIME to put everything in order.  SO-- please let me know if you would like to find out more about the Oakland Antioch & Eastern--  the name of the giant O-scale traction layout of the Eastbay Model Engineers Society in Emeryville, CA.

(1940--1984)...  I'd love to tell you the story--but is there THAT much interest on OGR ?

Cheers.

 

KRK

I ran across this comment from the Nov. 3, 2014 issue of "Free Rails" ...

"The two outstanding O scale modelers were Bill Hoffman. and Bill Clouser. Hoffman was on the West coast and built a model of near every car that the Sacramento Northern had. Not every class, every CAR! Worked in wood."

 

From Model Railroader magazine:

"W. G. Hoffmann - Absolutely magnificent Sacramento Northern and Pacific Electric rolling stock, scratchbuilt virtually board for board and bolt for bolt.  He took Best of Show in at least one of the old Model Railroader annual competitiions."  (1948)

 

Another comment from a reader of Model Railroader magazine---


"I'm not checking my sources before posting here, but I believe that Bill Hoffman has habitually won first place in the NMRA Nationals for traction models, and passenger equipment.  Year after year.  If I'm not mistaken, one year he had first place models in something like four or five categories."

 

And so it goes ....

 

KRK

Hi Everybody:

"And here he is--the Star of our show...  William G. 'Bill' Hoffman....  I knew I had this picture of Bill somewhere.

 

Model Railroader-- JUNE 1953...   Cover Photo ......

"Bill Hoffman of San Francisco and the Eastbay Model Engineers Society"

 

Dismantled for repairs are two of the O-gauge electric cars that Bill miraculously builds in a matter of hours, chiefly of wood.  He usually builds up his trucks from wood, too.

 

Cheers everybody !

 

Ken Shattock (KRK)

BAERA

OGR

LCCA

Bill _HoffmanA

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Images (1)
  • Bill _HoffmanA

 Someone told me that he would up after retirement at ROSS, a retirement community near Walnut Creek, CA.   I'm sure he must have 'passed' by now but I don't know.

---------------------

There is a brief mention on this page run by David Sadowski - maybe you know him. Our master builder Mr. Hoffman apparently passed on in the late 80s:    http://thetrolleydodger.com/tag/cae/

Last edited by Firewood

 

 

Hey Firewood--  I find no mention of Bill Hoffman in your link.  Can you please be more specific ?

 

KRK

 Someone told me that he would up after retirement at ROSS, a retirement community near Walnut Creek, CA.   I'm sure he must have 'passed' by now but I don't know.

---------------------

There is a brief mention on this page run by David Sadowski - maybe you know him. Our master builder Mr. Hoffman apparently passed on in the late 80s:    http://thetrolleydodger.com/tag/cae/

 

keyrouteken posted:

Hi Don and Everyone..  Thanks for your comments.  Don, Bill Hoffman DID live for awhile in Conneticut. He lived in Whittier, CA.  He lived in San Franciso.  Someone told me that he would up after retirement at ROSS, a retirement community near Walnut Creek, CA.   I'm sure he must have 'passed' by now but I don't know.  What I am VERY curious about is what happened to the hundreds and hundreds of O-scale trolleys and Interurbans he produced so detailed ??  They have to exist SOMEWHERE.  But, I have never heard a word about them.  Strange, huh ?

 

Rather than 1/4" scale, 2-rail...  Bill built his cars to 17/64" to the foot. Makes them a wee bit bigger!  And Leon,  you're right, the cars drew their power from the overhead wire as per the prototype with the rails as common.  The power at the club trolley  wire was a maximum of 18 volts, DC.

 

As a matter of fact, if any of you TRACTION buffs are interested..  I'll tell you the story of one of the largest O-scale traction layouts ever built in the United States. It took up a good chunk out of a nearly 10000 square foot space !

I have ALL the information on it in my Archives.  Photos, track diagram, everything !

BUT, it takes TIME to put everything in order.  SO-- please let me know if you would like to find out more about the Oakland Antioch & Eastern--  the name of the giant O-scale traction layout of the Eastbay Model Engineers Society in Emeryville, CA.

(1940--1984)...  I'd love to tell you the story--but is there THAT much interest on OGR ?

Cheers.

 

KRK

 

It is nice to see some interest in my father, Bill Hoffmann! He was one of the founders of the East Bay Model Engineer's Society, as I understood it. He did live in San Francisco where he built the Sacramento Northern and Key System cars. I do believe he did build the entire roster of the SN, although he would occasionally scrap a car. They indeed got their power through the trolley pole and track. I own that collection, as well as the British Columbia Electric, Oregon Electric and a few cars from a variety of systems. My brother owns the roster of Pacific Electric cars he built when we lived in La Habra Heights (not Whittier).  He continued to build cars blind and with only three right hand fingers while he lived in Orinda, CA, where he died in 2003. I just wrote a post on today's Hello Everyone post about his final days of train building. I am currently looking for a home for his collection. He sold several cars in the 1970's for $600 plus dollars to establish insurance value, but otherwise my brother and I own nearly every car he built. 14 of his Pullman cars were solicited by the California State Railway Museum. I am talking to the Smithsonian Museum about taking the SN. The cars need a new home and I am open to suggestions. 

Laurel-Rose Von Hoffmann-Curzi

 

Yes, I would like to see more about Bill & the old modelers and thanks for the info on the Hoffman collection. I vaguely remember my Dad taking me in to my second cousin's basement to see his model RR layout. I remember it was outside rail powered and all hand made.  It was in the early 40s because Dick  went to the Army in WW II and don't know what happened to it all.  My cousin came home after combat in Europe and was in California waiting for the invasion of Japan. Told me how they all cheered and were so happy when the A bomb was dropped.

keyrouteken posted:

 

 

Hey Firewood--  I find no mention of Bill Hoffman in your link.  Can you please be more specific ?

 

KRK

 Someone told me that he would up after retirement at ROSS, a retirement community near Walnut Creek, CA.   I'm sure he must have 'passed' by now but I don't know.

---------------------

There is a brief mention on this page run by David Sadowski - maybe you know him. Our master builder Mr. Hoffman apparently passed on in the late 80s:    http://thetrolleydodger.com/tag/cae/

 

Hi, I am Bill's daughter. He actually spent his final years in a home in Orinda and died in 2003. He should have died in the 1980's when he developed an aggressive T cell lymphoma. Instead, as always, he focused on his modeling. He would bring his favorite car of the moment wrapped in newspaper to his chemotherapy at Yale. It was unveiled with fanfare to the doctors and staff after each treatment. He survived the lymphoma only to get a rare histiocytic sarcoma, often fatal, on his right hand requiring an amputation of his ring and little fingers. After a bit of depression, he figured out how to build with three fingers! He went blind from macular degeneration, glaucoma and cataracts in the 1990's with only a little peripheral vision remaining. He continued to build including laying track and wiring for a whole new layout upon his move to Orinda, slow and laborious work. His paint jobs were less good by this point. He maintained that people die within two years of retirement without a compelling interest in a hobby. He outlived his prognosis by 20 years!

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