How Many of You Remember "David O King" Locos and Cars

He was similar to another brass importer of the period who brought in a McKeen car, and, l think, a Mack and Sykes rail cars. I found  the last two, but still lust after the McKeen.  Interesting what you once could get, but now cannot.

Colorado, the David O King trains was not imported. They were made I think in California and were made of tin. I would see them at the Cal-Stewart train meets in Southern California. I remember the Mckeen Cars you are talking about. Wish Mikes Trains would have made them but I guess they didn't get enough orders. Don

I had a David O King catalog in the first part of the 1970's. For me it was a wish book, I wanted some of them, but there was no way I could afford them.

A couple of years ago I picked up an NOS pair of David O King interurban trucks in a Walthers box (Along with a Walthers interurban kit). Both trucks powered. Off the top of my head, I don't remember how power gets from the motor to the wheels sets. I do remember that the two wheel sets are connected via chain drive, using a plastic Grandt Line chain.

Funny thing, the chain drive interferes with the collector roller. I don't see how the trucks could be run.

He also had a line of...idiosyncratic, shall we say, trolley cars?   Not for the faint of heart, but very cool looking.

Mitch,

   I do remember the Trolly Cars but nothing else out east here.

PCRR/Dave

David O. King started out in Brooklyn NY. He was famous for recycling tin cans, etc. in his early models. You might find all sorts of brand names, logos etc. on the inside of his models.

Lots of photos and info:

Here

Jim

I came across one of his pieces when i was liquidating a local collection. Very interesting, really had a home made feel about it. I sold it at a TCA event in Rhode Island, but often wished I had just hung on to it. 

I had a trolly and it was not a great  runner.  The worm and drive gears were plastic.  

David O. King started out in Brooklyn NY. He was famous for recycling tin cans, etc. in his early models. You might find all sorts of brand names, logos etc. on the inside of his models.

Thanks Jim!
I thought he was in Brooklyn, NY.
I was doubting my memory when I saw the address on the catalog pictured in Scale Rail's opening post.

   I do remember the Trolly Cars but nothing else out east here.

It was the trolley / traction cars that were of interest to me.

Hello fellow forum-ers. My name is Bill Harrison and I just joined in. I will be adding some more photos and information about David O. King, who my father knew in the '70's. I have one DOK item left, an O-Ga Milwaukee Road Olympian, which is a mammoth set with a double articulated loco and four extra heavy passenger cars, all in the orange color scheme. Will post photos later. I have always wanted to write an article about DOK for fellow collectors, but I really don't have a lot of information. My dad did tell me that he actually baked the newly painted trains in his oven at home in his kitchen! I'm sure his wife loved that. His specialty was trolleys, which he loved because of their brilliant colors and character, especially the San Francisco and Boston ones. It is true that he lived in Brooklyn and did not import.

Here is a link you might find interesting (the site in general is also well worth investigating)  http://www.binnsroad.co.uk/railways/kingdo/index.html

Looking forward to reading your posts about David O King. You may know more than you realize. I didn't know he baked his trains in his home oven.

Bill Harrison posted:

Hello fellow forum-ers. My name is Bill Harrison and I just joined in. I will be adding some more photos and information about David O. King, who my father knew in the '70's. I have one DOK item left, an O-Ga Milwaukee Road Olympian, which is a mammoth set with a double articulated loco and four extra heavy passenger cars, all in the orange color scheme. Will post photos later. I have always wanted to write an article about DOK for fellow collectors, but I really don't have a lot of information. My dad did tell me that he actually baked the newly painted trains in his oven at home in his kitchen! I'm sure his wife loved that. His specialty was trolleys, which he loved because of their brilliant colors and character, especially the San Francisco and Boston ones. It is true that he lived in Brooklyn and did not import.

You might know more than you think. You should talk to someone if you don't pursue it.

At least you've found some more folks to share &/or learn with. 

   Ive' been looking for info on an old logging RR ledgend who the Mich.Upper Penn's old timers used to talk about all the time.    It seems I might know more about "Con" (Cornelius) Culhane than anyone at this point.  The ledgend stopped with the decline of loggong, train use, and the loss of word of mouth story telling traditions. We lost some good ones as those folk born long before movies, and radio entertainment all passed away . What's online is fragmented. I can fill lots of gaps myself ...but even those authors I dragged up have passed on... personalized&"smart" search results of today has buried some sources I used to find pretty easily too. They are there, they just get listed many pages deep in the results despite quatation marks, etc. putting pro&con and convict t-tirts/ costumes sales above it 

I own a couple of David O King's Milwaukee Road box cabs.  Nice!

Bob Nelson

Some photos of the Olympian set by DOK.

I had a DOK catalogue in the 70s also.    I was aimed a modeling about 1900 at the time and he had some old time cars.   I ordered a model of a wooden tank car.   That was the only piece I have had.   It was well built, not highly detailed, and sturdy.    I came painted but not lettered.   I never did letter it.   I ran it for years and then changed my direction and sold it off at some point. 

Bill: Welcome to OGR.  I'm new at OGR too, although well remember when OGR was introduced to the model railroad magazine community.  For some reason your pix aren't showing up?  Would love to see them.

Pine Creek Dave: Amen brother.  We need the Lord now more than ever since the Corona scare has come close to producing a worldwide lockdown.  

I passed Milepost 74 this past July and was interested in returning to O scale in the 70s however don't recall DOK.  Where did he advertise?

Trying again to post my pix of the DOK Milwaukee Road "Olympian" set.

Lookin' Good!  WOW!  Thanks for sharing.

These things are built like tanks, except for the nylon worm drive and motors. I also have pix of six trolleys and will post them soon.

DOK trolleys. Check out the "Toonerville Trolley" and "Polar Snowplow."

DOK was a talented fabricator and really did some amazing work.

@Bill Harrison posted:

Trying again to post my pix of the DOK Milwaukee Road "Olympian" set.

Bill, .

That is one spectacular Olympian set, which until now I never knew existed.  Do you have any idea how many set DOK made?

Bob Nelson

I do remember the trolleys but thought that they were a little too crude. Plus, at that time, I really could not afford them anyway.

Here are a few pictures of my David O. King engines:

Ken

@navy.seal posted:

Bill, .

That is one spectacular Olympian set, which until now I never knew existed.  Do you have any idea how many set DOK made?

Bob Nelson

Bob,

First of all...THANK YOU for your service!! I also served (USAF). Not special ops, but in ICBM's.

This set was acquired by my dad, who knew DOK back in the 1970's. I don't know how my dad got hold of this set because, according to him, it was custom made for a Milwaukee Road board member and is a one-of-a-kind. I know of no other actual sets. Maybe some other members have more information. The construction and detail on the metal are amazing. However, DOK did use nylon worm drives and paper "decals."

I am submitting this information and the photos to Classic Toy Trains in response to a posting about DOK in the current issue.

Have a great day and be safe!

@LIRR Cannonball posted:

Here are a few pictures of my David O. King engines:

Ken

Ken, thanks for sharing. I did not know about these particular locos. Nice PIX!

Hi Bill,

Thanks for your trolley & Olympian pictures. I have not seen many of them; they are great info for us all.

I hope to see more from other Forum Members or yourself.

Ken

@Bill Harrison posted:

Bob,

First of all...THANK YOU for your service!! I also served (USAF). Not special ops, but in ICBM's.

This set was acquired by my dad, who knew DOK back in the 1970's. I don't know how my dad got hold of this set because, according to him, it was custom made for a Milwaukee Road board member and is a one-of-a-kind. I know of no other actual sets. Maybe some other members have more information. The construction and detail on the metal are amazing. However, DOK did use nylon worm drives and paper "decals."

I am submitting this information and the photos to Classic Toy Trains in response to a posting about DOK in the current issue.

Have a great day and be safe!

Thank YOU for your service! 

As a Milwaukee Road collector I am envious as I had hoped that additional sets might have been made so I might find and add one to my collection.  Fortunately, I do own a DOK Milwaukee Road boxcab. 

Bob Nelson

@navy.seal posted:

Thank YOU for your service!

As a Milwaukee Road collector I am envious as I had hoped that additional sets might have been made so I might find and add one to my collection.  Fortunately, I do own a DOK Milwaukee Road boxcab.

Bob Nelson

Bob,

I would consider selling if we could work something out. Email me if interested: gretnadude@hotmail.com