Multi-_Plex sectional O scale track late 1930's

Carey,

An interesting puzzle, indeed!

M.M.C. still exists as Crispin Valve in Berwick, PA , also an interesting place.

This company has a rich history and essentially was a 1:1 railroad car manufacturer in the late 1800's at it's beginning.

Having been an armored tank builder for WWI and a railcar builder perhaps earned the company the commission to build the Railroads at work exhibit track.

I'll ponder the track plan.

Hello Carl 

thank you for your reply and great link to all things about the NYC 1939 World's Fair ... a very impressive display of trains  big and small. 

There were two big O scale displays at the World's Fair ...Multi-Plex received  the contract to do both of them ...one layout had Walthers pieces and the other Alexander ... .... 

When the fair closed the "Railroads at Work " layout went to Macy's for Christmas of 1941 ..and was sold of piece by piece the following spring ...any World Fair trains out there ?  Any good high quality photos  of the layout ? 

Cheers Carey 

Very neat post.  I think I've seen some of this in the old magazines.

Carey, you and I both seem fascinated by older track pieces. I have some old brass code 198 rail on my outside 3rd rail layout and some bulk aluminum code 160 rail. Both are sizes that Lobaugh sold before WWII, not after, but only in steel. Would you happen to know who could have made mine?

Incidentally, off topic, I have an old NMRA standards book which mentions Q scale. 

Hello Fred 

The early days of O scale are a fun and interesting period with  rapid growth in technology and refinements among the models. 

Many folks offered rail in steel and brass ... before the war . Brass rail disappears early 1942 as part of the conservation of war materials . 

I have yet to make a study of the various rail codes that were available .

I'll post some photos of an outside 3rd rail layout, I was very fortunate to purchase 

cheers  Carey 

Here is one ad for early rail

Carl Auel with special offer for 132 rail

cheers Carey

Hello O scale world 

 In my building of a period library of magazines and catalogs ...a new arrival of  February 1939 Model Railroader  containing a new ad for MMC.... seems to have my layout pictured ...  or a very similar layout .... I'll use the photo as a guide to help in the reconstruction of the layout .  

Cheers Carey 

I have never heard of it before but it is beautiful track.  Seems way ahead of its time!

Moonman posted:

Carey,

An interesting puzzle, indeed!

M.M.C. still exists as Crispin Valve in Berwick, PA , also an interesting place.

This company has a rich history and essentially was a 1:1 railroad car manufacturer in the late 1800's at it's beginning.

Having been an armored tank builder for WWI and a railcar builder perhaps earned the company the commission to build the Railroads at work exhibit track.

I'll ponder the track plan.

Carl.

I think you may have Multiplex tied together with Jackson and Woodin Manufacturing in Berwick which in 1881 became American Car and Foundry. The Multiplex Manufacturing company started in 1905. They held the first patent for air valves developed by the owner Clarence Crispin.(thus the name change now) They have produced a myriad of products. From Automobiles in 1919 to Hot Dog makers as well as a second attempt at cars in the 50's. During WW2 Multiplex made airplane pistons. They are still owned by the original family. I believe the original factory burnt down at some point.

Thank you for the additional information regarding the Crispin / Multiplex Co. .....several generations of train enthusiasts ran in the family .   

Carey,

I thought I'd given everything away but last night I found another stash.  In said stash was a catalog from M.M.C dated 1938.  Cool to look through.  They even offered a double slip.

Jay

Jay, It would be great to see scans or photos of the catalog pages (someone could save them for posterity)

Hi Jim,

I'm sending the documents to Carey.  He says he will scan & share.  History shows he's proficient at doing just that.

I simply don't have the time.

Jay

Hello Jim and Jay 

Jay thank you very much  for sending the paperwork ....Jim once received , scanning  and posting will commence ! 

For the rest of the world ......does any one out there have any sections of Multi- plex track   .?  two or three rail ?     any extra you would consider selling ? 

Thank you 

Cheers Carey 

Hello Jay , Jim and the world ...  here is the 1938 MMC  Multi-Plex track catalog ...very kindly provided by Jay ( thank you ).....as mention Multi-Plex is still very much in business......but NOT the train track business so orders will not be filled .   However if you have any Multi-Plex track that you are not using ...I'm very much interested. 

I'll have an example of the Multi-Plex track on display at the up coming Indy show .

Cheers Carey 

Hello all ....some progress on the layout ..not running yet ..but yesterday I laid out the layout in the basement ...and it will fit ....   as a collector of vintage O scale .. one needs to be able to run both 2 rail and outside 3rd rail .....so the classic shelf layout is outside 3rd and the free standing layout in the center is the  Multiplex  2 rail.   With the help of the 1939 ad showing the layout  scroll up for ad and image  I was able to do a better job of connecting the dots ....much more fine tuning once up on a table fitting the pieces together .   Looks like a few pieces are missing ..but nothing major ... all the switching is there including the slip switch .  Layout is a folded 8 ( around up around and down ) ..and add additional small  center loop  by using the slip switch ..or run two trains independently ...or run one on the 8 and switch and build up a train .... and set it on the passing siding till crew change .   There will be a learning curve to climb on wiring it all up the way it was originally.... all part of the fun .   With luck this weekend start to build some frame work to set it on .   There will be some careful fitting of the layout  as to have a walk way around most of the layout for access to the shelf layout  and shelving.  Overall size   12' wide at far end , 10'  wide and near end  roughly 20' long , in a basement  27'x21' .....need to move hot water heater and sink  to slide over washer and dryer to maximize open clear space.   

Cheers Carey 

Now that track was way ahead of the times. I’ve never seen it. Thanks for the great post.

perhaps you don't need a table - Bob Anderson rebuilt his LCJ & I lines of YouTube fame and took a similar approach as the muilti-plex.

I think Micro-engineering track or MTH ScaleTrax flex would be good for fabricating missing sections.

I really appreciate your efforts with this historical track system.

Thank you for your kind words ...vintage O scale has been a fun adventure ..and I'm very fortunate to have been able to find the Multiplex layout ... to run the period pieces on ... a win win ....    

Bob Anderson's layout is a unique design ..very high tech and beautiful wood work..  but I'm going for more a period piece .... and I need table space as I collect  vintage buildings etc ....any one have some Model Structure buildings they want to get rid of ? ..

I'll post more photos as progress continues ....

Cheers Carey 

Hello all ....we are going up in the air .... fun connecting the dots ...