Skip to main content

I thought you might like to see some photos of Roberto's first freight car-a two bay hopper with horizontal ribs. He and I first became friends in the late 70's. We talked for hours over many years. He was an amazing talent, and everything was done on a couple of card t ables in his basement. He had hundreds of castings made for his cars. Many are double wall construction. I cannot imagine how many hand punched rivets he must have put into the hundreds of cars he crafted. The closest artist to him is Joseph Fischer who as we all know made magnificent passenger cars during the same era with the same type of equipment- a card table or two and a few old light bulbs along with an immense talent and love for the craft. Best wishes to you all for the New Year, Larry 

 

Photo on 1-1-14 at 8.11 PM

Photo on 1-1-14 at 8.11 PM #3

Photo on 1-1-14 at 8.11 PM #2

Photo on 1-1-14 at 8.08 PM

Attachments

Images (4)
  • Photo on 1-1-14 at 8.11 PM
  • Photo on 1-1-14 at 8.11 PM #3
  • Photo on 1-1-14 at 8.11 PM #2
  • Photo on 1-1-14 at 8.08 PM
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Thanks for the post Larry.  The Erie also rostered similar cars.  According to the records of A.T. Kott   Mr. Parri only built 5 Erie/Susquehanna flat bottom hoppers. Someone check me - but I recall Quality Craft or Ambroid (both manufactured by Bob Weaver) offered wood body, white metal detail kits for the same prototype.  IMO your drawing a parallel between Fischer's passenger cars and Parri freight cars was spot on.  I'd love to see a thread on Fischer cars.  I spoke with Joe the month before he died to see where I was on his wait list - he said I was next. The car Joe was to have  built was the modernized PRR heavyweight Pullman Keystone Banks - my favorite Pennsylvania passenger car. 

 

Ed Rappe

Last edited by Keystoned Ed
Originally Posted by Keystoned Ed:

Thanks for the post Larry.  The Erie also rostered similar cars.  According to the records of A.T. Kott   Mr. Parri only built 5 Erie/Susquehanna flat bottom hoppers. Someone check me - but I recall Quality Craft or Ambroid (both manufactured by Bob Weaver) offered wood body, white metal detail kits for the same prototype.  IMO your drawing a parallel between Fischer's passenger cars and Parri freight cars was spot on.  I'd love to see a thread on Fischer cars.  I spoke with Joe the month before he died to see where I was on his wait list - he said I was next. The car Joe was to have  built was the modernized PRR heavyweight Pullman Keystone Banks - my favorite Pennsylvania passenger car. 

 

Ed Rappe

I believe that was an Ambroid kit Ed. 

 

I know a certain O scale brass importer in PA has one built up. 

Thank-you all for the positive responses to the hopper car. If you would all not be offended, I might be able to post a photo of a Fischer passenger car for Ed. I have a Keystone Banks car  he built in the l970's and if it would not be out of place in this discussion about Roberto, I'd try and convince our daughter Flannery to help me again. For some reason, maybe because of  the passing of time so quickly now it seems, I am thinking of the last few conversations Roberto and I had. Maybe the most salient similarity between Parri and Fischer was not their incredible artistic ability, or their prolific contributions to the hobby, but their modesty and humility. Each was a solitary man working alone and producing amazing results for those in the future as well as those currently buying their works to enjoy. We are today fortunate to have a very few people following in their footsteps-our friend Dan Pantera comes to mind. He has produced so many beautiful works of art for the hobby and like his predecessors is humble, friendly and fortunately for everyone, very prolific. His passenger cars will, like Parri's and Fischer 'sefforts,  live on for many years after we have appreciated them-a great blessing if you will, for us all. There is a lot of beauty in our hobby. We are in some ways traveling through an enormous museum of art-when we go to a convention or to visit a friend's layout. We have a lot to be happy about and grateful for to be in this hobby. 

Hi Larry

Thank-you all for the positive responses to the hopper car. If you would all not be offended, I might be able to post a photo of a Fischer passenger car for Ed. I have a Keystone Banks car  he built in the l970's and if it would not be out of place in this discussion about Roberto, I'd try and convince our daughter Flannery to help me again. For some reason, maybe because of  the passing of time so quickly now it seems, I am thinking of the last few conversations Roberto and I had. Maybe the most salient similarity between Parri and Fischer was not their incredible artistic ability, or their prolific contributions to the hobby, but their modesty and humility. Each was a solitary man working alone and producing amazing results for those in the future as well as those currently buying their works to enjoy. We are today fortunate to have a very few people following in their footsteps-our friend Dan Pantera comes to mind. He has produced so many beautiful works of art for the hobby and like his predecessors is humble, friendly and fortunately for everyone, very prolific. His passenger cars will, like Parri's and Fischer 'sefforts,  live on for many years after we have appreciated them-a great blessing if you will, for us all. There is a lot of beauty in our hobby. We are in some ways traveling through an enormous museum of art-when we go to a convention or to visit a friend's layout. We have a lot to be happy about and grateful for to be in this hobby. 

 

Larry

 

I'll start a new Joe Fischer passenger car thread and encourage those on the Forum to post pictures and stories about Joe there.

 

look forward to seeing pictures of Keystone Banks.  I only own one of Joe's cars and it is at Dan Pantera's calumet Shop for repaint to PRR colors.  If the Fischer thread is popular perhaps I'll follow that up with one about Dan's work.

 

Ed Rappe

Post

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×