Quiet subject for a while. Anyone have any good finds or stories about Lionel dealer displays, etc
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i always wondered what the inside of this dealership looked like...
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overlandflyer posted:i always wondered what the inside of this dealership looked like...
The shop is on Staten Island, NY. He has since moved to another location on the Island. When you first walked in, the left side of the shop was fishing tackle, crab traps, etc. The rest of the store was loaded (walls, counters, etc) with Lionel and MTH, from R-T-R to top of the line in showcases, even a running layout in the back. I forget the owners name, but he was a young guy but very knowledgable about the hobby. There were 2 larger stores on the Island, but his, and 1 other are all thats left.....
That shop would be mini- heaven for me lol.
My only dealer experience lately was picking up a 95 X jag my pal bought. Sort of gunmetal silver/blue.
wolffeone posted:overlandflyer posted:i always wondered what the inside of this dealership looked like...
The shop is on Staten Island, NY. He has since moved to another location on the Island. When you first walked in, the left side of the shop was fishing tackle, crab traps, etc. The rest of the store was loaded (walls, counters, etc) with Lionel and MTH, from R-T-R to top of the line in showcases, even a running layout in the back. I forget the owners name, but he was a young guy but very knowledgable about the hobby. There were 2 larger stores on the Island, but his, and 1 other are all thats left.....
Where on Staten Island? I see two addresses; one on Victory Blvd and one on Tysen st.
Sean
wolffeone posted:overlandflyer posted:i always wondered what the inside of this dealership looked like...
The shop is on Staten Island, NY. He has since moved to another location on the Island. When you first walked in, the left side of the shop was fishing tackle, crab traps, etc. The rest of the store was loaded (walls, counters, etc) with Lionel and MTH, from R-T-R to top of the line in showcases, even a running layout in the back. I forget the owners name, but he was a young guy but very knowledgable about the hobby. There were 2 larger stores on the Island, but his, and 1 other are all thats left.....
thanks for satisfying my curiosity! it was so long ago i forget how i came across this picture, but i still smile when i see the combination of the divergent hobbies, though if there was one on the west coast, i might even be a customer being a participant in both myself.
not sure if Sheldon's suggestion of a Shoe Store/ Yogurt Shop would ever work out, but i can think of a few other train combinations that might work in an economy where many people have to double up on jobs...
Model Trains/ Home Brewing Supplies
Model Trains/ Tire Sales - Oil Change
Model Trains/ Bail Bonds
...any others?
Were there any dealer displays including the gantry rocket launcher?
I have stumbled on a bit of X-set info that I might wish to build off of. If youve heard of the giant X land sea air Mercury space set order for a buyer known only as "automotive", well....that might be my set. But the stock listed is actually shy or there was two sets. I had more that the order doesnt show. Steam,A-A, Rocket launch engine, fire critter&ladder car, gang car, ballast tamper, plus near every land sea air space car. It was a gift from the local VFW for shouting cur rah hee instead of goodbye each time I left. Mostly Navy guys too, but they still ate it up, lol.
Ace, Your forgetting the near traditional model train/hardware store. Others I recalll:
Two nurseries (plants) Downriver of Detroit sold trains till the 70s.
Greeting cards and trains. (I guess other gifts weren't considered?)
Keys/trains
Today an electronic supply house would be a great match up.
Oh and a barbershop sold trains till the guy passed in 68.
model trains/ insert waiting room of choice here.
I've been to a doctor that has staff selling beauty products and cruises to the patients during slow hours. (He's better at selling IMO) Most folks say its better than boredom and waiting quietly. A total soft sell, no pressure, but odd.
I wouldn't mind watching the display trains while waiting to see a doctor.lol.
I have never had cause to stop in there, with The Train Room just a block or two away, but I always thought "Hagerstown Moped and Hobby" was an interesting mix.
The Train Room in Hagerstown Maryland has a museum attached to the store. I've been there a couple of times. There are some extremely rare items there, including a Lionel U-Drive boat. It's well worth a visit!
Note: There is an admission fee to the museum.
In the spirit of the “we sell trains and (fill in the blank)” discussion have to mention Lionel Buy & Sell, aka, Potomac Trading in Kensington, Maryland. This long time operation sells trains and guns. 
As you approach the building one door goes to the train store and the other to the gun shop.
Haven't been over there in years and not even sure if they're still open.
When I lived on Long Island there was a Gun Smith on Sunrise Highway that sold trains and some other antiques / collectables. I forget the town. It was somewhere between Freeport and Massapequa, on the east bound side of the road.
It was all old stuff, no current production. I purchased a few items from him over the years.
Back in the early 2000's, Al Moyer and his wife used to have a bakery / ice cream and train shop in Pottstown PA. He started out with only a glass case in the back of the store that had a few used pieces. Later, he expanded into a converted garage next door. He stocked new and used stuff plus MTH, Lionel and American Flyer. I used to do some custom paint work for him on old Flyer items. Sadly, Al passed away a scant five or six year's later and both shops have closed. Still saddens me when I pass this spot.
overlandflyer posted:wolffeone posted:overlandflyer posted:i always wondered what the inside of this dealership looked like...
The shop is on Staten Island, NY. He has since moved to another location on the Island. When you first walked in, the left side of the shop was fishing tackle, crab traps, etc. The rest of the store was loaded (walls, counters, etc) with Lionel and MTH, from R-T-R to top of the line in showcases, even a running layout in the back. I forget the owners name, but he was a young guy but very knowledgable about the hobby. There were 2 larger stores on the Island, but his, and 1 other are all thats left.....
thanks for satisfying my curiosity! it was so long ago i forget how i came across this picture, but i still smile when i see the combination of the divergent hobbies, though if there was one on the west coast, i might even be a customer being a participant in both myself.
not sure if Sheldon's suggestion of a Shoe Store/ Yogurt Shop would ever work out, but i can think of a few other train combinations that might work in an economy where many people have to double up on jobs...
Model Trains/ Home Brewing Supplies
Model Trains/ Tire Sales - Oil Change
Model Trains/ Bail Bonds...any others?
Model Trains/ Bail Bonds
This ^ !
Hi C. W., are you thinking of the store on Merrick Road in Seaford right near the Seaford Oyster Bay Expressway? I have not been there in 20 years but I remember him having K Line, Lionel and Marklin.
Miketg
Hi C. W., are you thinking of the store on Merrick Road in Seaford right near the Seaford Oyster Bay Expressway? I have not been there in 20 years but I remember him having K Line, Lionel and Marklin.
I could have sworn the store was on Sunrise Highway. Might have been Seaford.
Regardless, this was in the mid 1970's, I don't think Kline was in business yet.
It was all old merchandise, nothing newly made.
I grew up on Chicago's Northwest side in the late 50s and 60's. I remember my parents going shopping in the Belmont and Central shopping area. There was a Hobby Shop on Belmont Avenue. I remember it being called Pilot Paint and Model shop. As I remember it, on one side of the store it was trains on the other side it was paint and decorating supplies. It had two big glass display windows on each side of the center entry. The one side had the toy and model stock the other had the paint display. I loved going in there. I did a google search and came up with the photo below. That is the building I remember, now called the Pilot Hobby Shop. Sadly, it closed in 2007.
Greg
Northwoods Flyer
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Do any West Coasters remember Big Y Yardage and Trains in Montclair CA.? I see they may not still carry trains but wow! what a fun shop, fabrics and tons of O gauge. Does anyone know the history of this place? I used to visit several times in the early 90's. I'll bet AGHR Matt would remember this place.
Greg J. Turinetti posted:I grew up on Chicago's Northwest side in the late 50s and 60's. I remember my parents going shopping in the Belmont and Central shopping area. There was a Hobby Shop on Belmont Avenue. I remember it being called Pilot Paint and Model shop. As I remember it, on one side of the store it was trains on the other side it was paint and decorating supplies. It had two big glass display windows on each side of the center entry. The one side had the toy and model stock the other had the paint display. I loved going in there. I did a google search and came up with the photo below. That is the building I remember, now called the Pilot Hobby Shop. Sadly, it closed in 2007.
Greg
Northwoods Flyer
I miss that place! For collector quality postwar Lionel, that place was a treasure trove! He still had mint postwar that he had sealed in plastic that had never been sold since it left the factory. I was there once in the late 80's when he was showing a guy a mint AEC switcher. The customer just kept upping his offer. As I recall, the guy didn't even have to say a word. The customer would just keep offering more. Towards the end I wouldn't be suprised if the paint and hardware stuff in there actually still had 1950's dust on it.
One gauge I had yet to get into is Lionel OO gauge, so now I am reproducing the OO gauge dealer layout down to the little billboard and construction, will keep posted, Finishing up a D187 ferris wheel and a D11 tower and sign. Also getting ready to do another D52 lazy susan display to sell. Also clearing some space to move the D147 up tothe train room---running out of space! But I am in process of doin graphics for the Rare D53 standing crossing sign, it will be out of 1/4" birch instead of fiber board but same construction and graphics!!
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I think there is a OO collection nearby. If you need to round stuff up for it & want the contact info let me know by mail.
