Reddy Kilowatt

I'll forgive your error (what error??) as it applies to us all. Each and everyone of us have fond memories of our youth. Seeing this brought back many. What I remember most was going to the movies every Saturday. Ah yes!, that's when a quarter bought you a double feature, four cartoons, popcorn and a soda.

Thank you for bringing back some happy memories. 

When I was in college, in 1969-1972, One dollar did the following: round trip on the Broad Street Subway, the Philadelphia Inquirer and a slice of pizza from a lunch truck.

Of course, my income was limited, as well.

I remember old Reddy Killowatt.  He was the spokesperson for the local power company, inviting all TV viewers to buy more electrical appliances, and to make their lives easier by doing so..  I always thought it would be great to see Reddy and Speedy Alka-seltzer in a cartoon together as tiny super heros, like Might Mouse, but more people-like.  

Reddy Kilowatt rodes the side of a number of power company hoppers, including Missouri Public Service.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=559787

I know that some were made in O Gauge!

other Reddy info, (possibly wrong inception date?)

http://helloartichokeannie.blo...-reddy-kilowatt.html

and from the St. Louis Park Historical Society,

http://www.slphistory.org/history/power.asp

a paragraph that reads:

"In 1925, Ashton B. Collins, Sr., an Alabama power company manager, was looking for a way to humanize electricity, with the frequent message of "the servant of mankind." He got his idea during a thunderstorm, when two lightning bolts formed the arms and legs of a person. He added rubber gloves and shoes for safety a light bulb nose, and used electric outlets for ears. Reddy Kilowatt was introduced by Alabama Power Company on March 11, 1926. More than 200 power companies around the world contracted to use Reddy as their spokes bolt. He came to NSP and the Twin Cities in 1942."

Dan 

I have always loved that symbol.  I too remember him from my youth.  The Miller sign of him is a keeper too.

Art

I have a miller engineering reddy kilowatt on my electric utility building.  amazing how many visitors to the layout (adults) have no knowledge of him.

Always loved that little dude. He's on my RMT water tower at the center of my layout.

I used to have a Reddy Kilowatt desktop statuette when I was a kid.  The lightning-bolt "body" was red lucite, and the head, hands and feet were glow-in-the-dark plastic.  I remember my father giving it to me, but I never knew where he got it.  It was a very classy little item.

Unfortunately, my mother...  Well, you know the rest.

http://www.tvhistory.tv/other_stuff3.htm

Don't despair. Collecting toys is based upon stories like yours. It's all about compensation for lost childhoods. He's out there; you just need to search & find & cough up the bucks. Good luck!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAG...;hash=item3a961b0b68

I remember Reddy.  In fact, as a longtime utility company employee, Reddy is my super hero.  I know, some of you are saying I finally went off the deep end.  Some day I want to get one of those neat Miller Engineering units.  There always seems to be something more important to buy, however.

There's a tremendous amount of Reddy Kilowatt stuff out there, much on the bay. I admire this piece, but not the asking price.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/REDDY-...;hash=item4624233a50

Very familiar for two reasons:

1 - My father worked for the Alabama Power Company for 41 years, so it was a very

familiar figure.

2 - Reddy Kilowatt was born in Alabama in 1926, when he made his first appearance

in The Birmingham News, March 14, 1926. He was the creation of Alabama Power's

Commercial Manager, Ashton B. Collins, Sr.

(The above is from the Reddy Kilowatt Wikipedia page, but I've known it for years.)

Strangely, I do not own a K-line Reddy Kilowatt car.

While in college, I spent the Summer of '79 working for Pennsylvania Power & Light.

My Reading coal train has two die-cast Lionel PP&L hoppers:

You can see Reddy Kilowatt in the keystone.

Jim

That's neat...thanks for sharing.

--Greg

I think Reddy Kilowatt has been replaced by LED Larry! A small humorless soul but very efficient.  I think they have a cousin, CFL Cathy with lots of curves but watch out for that mercury poisoning if you break her(heart)!

He's awesome.  Had only recently seen him since getting into O gauge and joinning the forum.  Thank you for sharing!