1944 WW2 was winding down ..modelers we're chopping at the bit to buy new pieces for their layout . Large manufacturers were still locked into government contracts and it would take many months - several years to return to model train production. This window of time gave many little start ups sometime to jump into the field to fill the gap ...most jumped / forced out when the "big boys" returned to the field by 1948.
Prewar Ed Alexander provided a model of the PRR GG1.....producing an estimated 100 kits / models 1937-41).
Jack Collier of Oakland , CA hobby shop owner ..and active with the Bay City Model Railroad Club (O & HO scale ) ..produced a GG1 kit designed in 1944 ...for both O and HO scales . O scale GG1 RTR was $250.00 out the door ..huge money at the time .
Walther's partnered with Baldwin of CT ...and produced a GG1 by end of 1947 ..at about half the price ...
Collier's body casting is fine but nose area missed the mark ..chassis is great with full suspension on drivers .
Walther's / Baldwin got the nose right but the chassis was way wrong ...so much so Walther's had to point it out in his catalogs .
Collier pieces seem to have been only made in very small numbers .
Please see link to see the O scale version running
To see the HO version running please see
Cheers Carey
