Atlas offering two Natty Boh Reefers!!!

Must be a Baltimore THANG! LOL!

Close but no cigar.  IT IS a Baltimore thing.

You would think by now Atlas would offer some new box car models to fill a void? I’m surprised they are is still hanging onto the dwindling O business.

Glad to see some people will be happy!

I'm going to order 10 sets of each and make a killing on the secondary market! Of course, that will be sure to guarantee they'll be blown out 6 months after the release and I'll lose much money!

-Greg

Great sales pitch Gilly. Hope to be able to see you at October York. Greg, I'll be glad totake a couple off your hands at an unbelievably low price when you reach that point.

In memory of Wes Unseld. Truly a great person associated with Baltimore. Loved to watch him play.

Gerry

National Bohemian was a strange label to me when I met my wife, her daycare mother was married to a line worker at the Natty Bo brewery off the beltway in Baltimore. When dating, we would stop by and that was what was in the fridge, as a West coaster used to Olympia, Rainier and Hamms, it took some getting used to.

We seldom visit Baltimore anymore with her family passed away or moved, but the brewery under another name when we pass by it on the way to bay bridge or BWI is strange. 

My collection has no billboard reefers, but eventually I would add them when my consists for tankers, boxcars and hoppers get completed. So much I want, and finite funds keep me watching and window shopping.

Greg,

Buy 6, sell 4 keep 2 for "free". Or, buy 6 sell 4 for 50% of purchase price and lose your shirt.

FWIW, as much as I would like to have all 4 cars offered, I am going to be happy to have 2.

@gmorlitz posted:

Great sales pitch Gilly. Hope to be able to see you at October York. Greg, I'll be glad totake a couple off your hands at an unbelievably low price when you reach that point.

In memory of Wes Unseld. Truly a great person associated with Baltimore. Loved to watch him play.

Gerry

It's almost as if he had a hand in the offering!   Gerry - if there was ever a person I'd gladly sell one to at a considerable loss it would be you my friend!

@Gilly@N&W posted:

Greg,

Buy 6, sell 4 keep 2 for "free". Or, buy 6 sell 4 for 50% of purchase price and lose your shirt.

FWIW, as much as I would like to have all 4 cars offered, I am going to be happy to have 2.

 

I'm in the same boat now that I have college to pay for - I'll just be ordering one myself and I'm happy with that.

-Greg

Just pre ordered the two Natty Boh reefers.  Not too crazy about the plug door on one of them but they will go well with my two original Natty Boh reefers.  Anyone remember this gang that received their original reefers at the Natty Boh brewery in Baltimore?

Sometimes things just sort of sail over my head.  In that vein, I really don't get the "Natty Bo" thing that exists here.

Ah well... even if you did try to explain it, I probably wouldn't understand it anyway!

Enjoy your Natty Bo reefers!

Andre

Since published ads have not been seen by me, l am not current on what ELSE has been offered in Atlas reefers?  Is somebody keeping a running list of Atlas (only) reefers.

The last Ambrose auction had groups of 10 Atlas woodside billboard reefers going for around $400 to 500 per 10, so around $40 to 50 each before shipping and buyers premium is added.

Thanks, Gilly. Missed it completely. Just placed my order, too!

@colorado hirailer posted:

Since published ads have not been seen by me, l am not current on what ELSE has been offered in Atlas reefers?  Is somebody keeping a running list of Atlas (only) reefers.

This list is has most of them except for the last few years:

https://www.toytrains1.com/atlas_reefers.htm

For the last few years just go to the Atlas O website.

-Greg

Ok, ordered 2 of each of the Natty Boh reefers!  

Ordered one of each myself 

I am considering ordering one or two. However, I have a feeling these cars won't appreciate like the earlier cars. Just my opinion and I certainly could be wrong. If I do order one it is because I like the car not about making money later.

I honestly don't think they'll appreciate either.   The big draw of the first run was the limited availability and unique way the process ran from inception to delivery.   It wasn't like Paul was a dealer doing a special run to make money.  Once folks in the hobby learned about the unique aspects interest took off but by that time the number of cars had already been set.

-Greg

@laming posted:

Sometimes things just sort of sail over my head.  In that vein, I really don't get the "Natty Bo" thing that exists here.

 

Andre

I've never understood this either. Maybe if you're from that part of the country it means something. I'd imagine these new offerings are going to have a significant negative impact on the ridiculous prices of the previous issue. Personally, I find other Atlas beer cars to be much more attractive - the Coors reefer, for example. But for those nuts about Natty, it's probably good news to see these cars.

Nick, that was a fun day.

to Paul, The imitation is the greatest compliment To your original design. Thank you for your hard work. No doubt Atlas was impressed, too. While a n8ce car, and I ordered two, they’ll not be as impressive or collectible as yours!

@breezinup posted:

I've never understood this either. ... I'd imagine these new offerings are going to have a significant negative impact on the ridiculous prices of the previous issue....But for those nuts about Natty, it's probably good news to see these cars.

The Paul Strickland thread on the Natty Boh reefers may have been the largest in OGR Forum history. It was accidently deleted and is now gone forever. It was an extensive chronical of a man on a mission to get car built by Atlas. We shared a front row experience to all of his trials and tribulations. In the end, we all won.

My initial reaction was that future offerings would fall flat. The METCA LionScale offering proved me wrong and sold out quickly. It also sells at a significant premium on the secondary market.  This is due in part to the excellent reputation of the original Atlas Natty Boh cars.

As for the potential resale value of the new cars, it will depend upon how many are made. Limit to 250 each, and I believe that these will be desirable. I will apologize to everyone if I am wrong, but I would expect this car to be a quick sell-out. If Atlas makes 1000+ then these will become common.

This latest offerings do check key boxes

• For those of us who own the original Natty Boh cars, now we can have more.
• If you missed the original offering, now is your chance to get one.
• If secondary market price has ever held you back, there is for the first time a low cost offering
• It builds on the Natty Boh "Brand"

As for Natty Boh, it is a beer thing. Before the original Atlas cars, I had never even heard of Natty Boh beer. It is now a favorite. Very light, and a good beer to drink if you are thirsty. Very clean finish.

What is the next great car? I thought with all of the York TCA enthusiasts, Scrapple would have been a natural. I crashed and burned in spectacular fashion when I tried to get permission from Rappa and Habbersett. One wrote "NO" in Sharpie marker on the preaddressed stamped envelope I had included. The other took the time to write a letter to describe the very unpleasant legal ramifications if I were to bring this subject up with them again, or attempt to proceed with the proposed project.  This experience only increased my admiration for what Paul accomplished.

I don't see the gaga over natty bo either. Not only is the beer lousy imo but the car was nothing special ( sorry Paul ) but hey he hit the ball on his first swing and it was a home run. 

But then I never bought any trains thinking was going to make money like some guy's.

Dave

@david1 posted:

I don't see the gaga over natty bo either. Not only is the beer lousy imo but the car was nothing special ( sorry Paul ) but hey he hit the ball on his first swing and it was a home run. 

 

It's an interesting story on how the car came to be made, but I have to agree that the car's nothing special appearance-wise. Having never tasted the beer, I'll have to take your word that it's lousy beer.  Plus Gilly@N&W said "As for Natty Boh, it is a beer thing.......Very light, and a good beer to drink if you are thirsty." A very light "beer" isn't really beer. If you're thirsty, that's what water is for. 

The difficulties faced in making the car are to be appreciated. Gilly @ N&W's story about his dismal (but humorous) crash and burn with Rappa and Habbersett illustrate the uphill battle in getting permission for these things. Whenever I hear these stories, I think about the incredible achievement of the Lionel employees during the MPC days who managed to get licenses from dozens and dozens and dozens (and dozens) of companies to use their names and logos on the great variety of wonderful (and colorful) Lionel cars that were produced during that era. Quite amazing.

I don't care about future value, I just like the car.

I ordered four of the beer cars. All different.

@david1 posted:

I don't see the gaga over natty bo either. Not only is the beer lousy imo but the car was nothing special ( sorry Paul ) but hey he hit the ball on his first swing and it was a home run. 

But then I never bought any trains thinking was going to make money like some guy's.

Dave

There is no such thing as a lousy beer, only different grades of good.🥴😀😎

@laz1957 posted:

There is no such thing as a lousy beer, only different grades of good.🥴😀😎

I was going to bust Gilly's chops on the taste comment but after reading your response I realize my view is wrong and yours is spot on!

-Greg

@laz1957 posted:

There is no such thing as a lousy beer, only different grades of good.🥴😀😎

Really? And what's your take about Bush and Old Milwaukee? Does it really get any better than that?

As a lifelong Marylander, thought I'd offer the following. It's not about trains and some of it is old news to locals but the rest of the audience might find it interesting background.

The maker of National Bohemian (Natty Boh) was the National Brewing Company based in Baltimore since the 19th century. In the 50s and early 60s their advertising on radio and TV were well known and some of their jingles and cartoon characters were close to legendary ("brewed by the shores of the Chesapeake Bay").

The original owner of the Baltimore Orioles, Jerold Hoffberger, was President of National Brewing and he quickly began a relationship between Natty Boh and sports. The Orioles and old Washington Senators carried National as a major sponsor and both Memorial Stadium and Griffith Stadium featured Natty Boh signage prominently in the ball parks.

For you baseball fans, one of the longest home runs ever hit was by Mickey Mantle at Griffith Stadium in DC in 1953.  The ball cleared the stadium completely and sailed over the Natty Boh sign.

The beer itself? An acquired taste.

@prrhorseshoecurve posted:

Really? And what's your take about Bush and Old Milwaukee? Does it really get any better than that?

Ol Mil is my beer of choice.  I didn’t know you were the leading beer taster, tester, and connoisseur for this forum.

@prrhorseshoecurve posted:

Really? And what's your take about Bush and Old Milwaukee? Does it really get any better than that?

Not sure what Bush is, other than this.     

Busch, on the other hand, is drinkable. (The first beer brewed by Anheuser-Busch after the end of Prohibition.)

@laz1957 posted:

Ol Mil is my beer of choice.  I didn’t know you were the leading beer taster, tester, and connoisseur for this forum.

I used to drink a lot of Ol Mil. Then again, I was a teenager at the time, and it was something like $5 for a case of cans.    Now, I'm a connoisseur and drink Bud. 

Anywho, I never heard of Natty Boh before that special run, either. I'm glad Atlas is giving me a chance to get another. Beer reefers are cool.

(Still hoping for Atlas to start producing their SW switchers, so I can push the reefers around with them)

You really have to be from Baltimore to fully appreciate the significance of Natty Boh.  It's part of our summer time holy trinity.

Let me just say this about beer.   I admit I have a particularly discriminate palate but when I'm out and someone offers me a cold beer and the other choices are non-alcoholic I'm taking the cold beer EVERY time and saying "Thank-you sir (or ma'am)!

-Greg

@wild mary posted:

You really have to be from Baltimore to fully appreciate the significance of Natty Boh.  It's part of our summer time holy trinity.

Road trip to Nick's house!!

-Greg

  It is interesting to read the posts referring to Paul's original effort.  I too was there at the beginning and followed the ups and downs as reported on the forum.  I have/had an iron clad rule not to purchase an Atlas reefer unless it was of an actual prototype.  At one point there seemed to be some doubt concerning Paul's ability to get to the required minimum number of orders so, having followed everything, I decided I'd break my rule just to help out and I ordered one (it later turned out this wasn't a problem). It's the only non-prototype reefer I own.

  After the reefer arrived it occurred to me I had never tasted Natty Bo beer so I posted a question on the forum asking where one might get a bottle in Ohio.  The general consensus was this was not an option, however, one of the respondents said he was pretty sure a beer distributor close to the York Fairgrounds carried the brand. Consequently, when I went to the next York meet, I checked it out.  I was hoping I could get just one bottle but the minimum purchase was 12 so a dozen bottles of Natty Bo came home with me.  As it turned out, on that visit I didn't find a single thing at the York meet so I basically drove 650 miles (round trip) to get some Natty Bo beer.

  For me, the memory of Paul's efforts coupled with my adventures with respect to getting some Natty Bo beer means his reefer will always be a welcome presence when it rolls down the Ophir and Oblivion mainline.

@wild mary posted:

You really have to be from Baltimore to fully appreciate the significance of Natty Boh.

Not a beer/alcohol consumer... but I better understand the Natty Bo thing thanks to the explanations of those sharing.

Now... 'bout them crabs...

THEY look DELICIOUS!!

You seacoast guys/gals have it all over us land-locked seafood lovers.

As a young lad driving an over the road semi (back in the early 70s), I used to LOVE it when I'd hit the eastern coast, especially around Maryland/etc. GREAT seafood, and CHEAP! I can recall eating FRESH boiled lobster in Maine for less than HALF of what it sold for in my state. Same with oysters: Fried oysters were a dime a dozen! Loved those trips!

Boy those crabs look DEE-lish!

Andre "Drooling" Ming

I ordered all four from Pat's Trains.  Interesting that Atlas is almost making them in other scales too.  How cool!

@wild mary posted:

You really have to be from Baltimore to fully appreciate the significance of Natty Boh.  It's part of our summer time holy trinity.

Just so I understand, the Holy Trinity is crab, Natty Boh, and a hammer? 

@breezinup posted:

Just so I understand, the Holy Trinity is crab, Natty Boh, and a hammer? 

Actually it's  called a mallet, not a hammer and no it's not part of the Holy Trinity.  It's all in the seasoning - Old Bay - the third part of the trinity.