On Sep. 5, 1973, I went to his house at 704 Pecan Dr. in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and bought 1 of his E-44 electrics unpainted for $370. He had been charging $410 for the painted version, but had already stopped making them. He told me that he made 50, 2 pilot modes, and 4 runs of 12 at a time. Why 12? Some of the ready made parts were sold by the dozen. Unless specified by the purchase, the painted versions were given different low numbers, and my choice of PRR 4444 had not been used. On Jul. 5, 2020, I bought PC 4431 from Trainz for $525.66 including tax and shipping. Who was the original owner?
His next loco was the ex-Great Northern electric in its Pennsylvania RR FF-2 configuration, estimated at about $710. After that, he contemplated a GG-1 "as it should be made".
He had an 0-scale layout that was designed to come apart in section when he moved somewhere else, which probably happened by 1982.
I remember another visitor in early 1974 trying to arrange a trade of a Joe Fisher passenger car and a Central Locomotive Works GP Diesel, saying that they were worth about the same. Bill refused, explaining that he was a businessman or dealer, and had to make a profit on every transaction.
