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Model Structures  was a small company in Santa Cruz, Ca  owned by Ralph Kann...producing outstanding  wood, press cardboard, kits and ready built buildings , portals, and trestles in  O scale (1/4") .  First ad appearing 1938 ...Rolin Lobaugh gave them a plug in his catalogs .....    1939 Treasure Island fair in SF ..Model Structures supplied many buildings  for several of the layouts on display.   Model Structures catalog #1 ( undated) ..but roughly 1940 is rich with many track side buildings ...many styled after the SP .... humble track side waiting shed to a 12 stall roundhouse to die for .   Most of the buildings were offered in red brick or yellow frame  siding varieties.   A small box of bits and a sheet of vague directions and you are off on an adventure  of gluing and cutting  for many evenings .........or  spend the big bucks to buy one of the buildings all built ..( it is worth the investment..go for it ) .   Model Structure buildings in the built up fashion were relatively expensive   .... built up coal tower in 1940  $80.00...  and after the war  one was listed used for 100....  so they seem to have had their value at the time. 

After the war Model Structures continued  with the same line .... postwar sales fall off ....Kann selling out to All Nation about 1952/3 window ....

All Nation carried the Model Structure bridges and portals  in the catalogs  for many years ...selling off old stock..All Nation sold the line to Right-Away .....Right-Away sold the line to a private individual who likes Model Structures . 

Gaze at all the best layouts from the late 30s' , 40's and 50's ...you'll be able to spot a Model Structures building  in key locations . 

I've been very fortunate to be able to purchase  some of the buildings  ( always looking for more ) ....the pieces all have that classic 40's look ..and fit right in with late steam and  vary early diesels. 

Cheers Carey

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Right-O'-Way never owned Model Structures.  When Bill Pope passed away. Will (Si) Simonton & I bought the line from Bill Popes Estate.  Turns out some of it may have been sold prior to that.  I still have the bill of sale and don't plan on relinquishing it.  What I did sell was most of the inventory.

Jay

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

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