My first brass car was a NJ Custom Brass 2 bay covered hopper. Bought it brand new from Jules Johnson when they came out, probably in the early to mid 1980's. Downhill from there.
Interestingly, my dad who spent his life in O Scale scratch building brass engines and assembling brass kits of all kinds for others purchased only one brass ready made item in his entire life for himself, a PFM D&SL 2-6-6-0 when they came out, probably in the late 1990's. 
