Post 10 7-1-2016
50’s Type Buildings From Childhood Layout
I have two buildings from my brothers and my childhood layout on my layout. They were both made by our Dad, about 1950, using his childhood pedal powered scroll or jigsaw.
One building is a small train station, made from Masonite with the roof covered with model railroading roofing paper. The building has cuts scribed in to resemble siding. It has widows and other parts sawed out by jigsaw after drilling a hole and making inside cuts.
Train station built in 1950, roof paper was originally Green 
The second building is a gas or service station. It is made from some type of thin wood covered with paper on both sides. The siding has model railroading brick paper glued to the side to simulate brick siding. The two garage doors have windows cutout with a pedal driven jigsaw. The rear windows were made from some plastic window covering with cloth support simulating window panes.
Gas Station built in late 1940's or 1950s 
These building construction methods lead me to build several of my building using Masonite and brick paper which is still available from hobby shops or on eBay. I got mine from Walthers years ago.
My brother and I used my Dad’s pedal powered #1 Amateur Velocipede Scroll (jig) Saw from age 7 or so through high school. My father used this pedal powered jig saw to make these two buildings. When pedal driven the saw had a 3/8" round leather belt between the upper pulley and the large pedal pulley. My Dad installed a small ¼ hp motor when I was about 10. My brother still has that jigsaw.
Picture of a pedal powered #1 Amateur Velocipede Scroll Saw just like ours.
Many other 50s style Plasticville buildings, original and kit bashed, are used on the layout also.
Charlie
