I just received the word the Ted Klein owner(?) of M. B. Klein in Baltimore just passed away last night. I remember when I first knew of him when he worked in his father's hardware store (M. B. Klein & Son) and offered members of the Baltimore Society of Model Engineers a 10% discount; that was a lot to a young teenager! Sol Levinson Funeral Home will be handling the arrangements, hopefully they will put them on their website.
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So sorry to hear this. Ted Klein was certainly a major figure in the model train world in the Baltimore area. M.B. Kleins has been around for over 100 years. Not only did he own M.B. Klein's Model Train Headquarters but also Modeltrainstuff.com ... the on line store.
For many years their old store on Gay Street in Baltimore got a weekly visit from me. The store had a great deal of character and charm all its own. I thought of that store as a model train dept. store with all the different gauges of trains having their own areas. The Large Scale room was my favorite, of course, because that's where the O gauge trains were located .... with large showcases of locomotives.... the narrow isles and shelves overcrowded with an abundance of stock. The staff was super knowledgable, helpful, and always willing to answer questions. I got to know Bob Levine , the manager of the O gauge train quite well. I could call him on the phone with a question and he was always willing to help out. Every staff person at MB Kleins just radiated a true love for model trains. Their enthusiasm was infectious.! Everyone who worked there had a model train layout too!
Once Ted moved the store out to Cockeysville, Md. my visits were not as frequent, due to the added distance from my home. I did enjoy the Cockeysville store as well with it's O gauge room and very nice layout! However, it just didn't have the special charm of the old store on Gay Street. Over the years I've bought LOTS of trains from M.B. Klein and modeltrainstuff.com for that matter. I hope the store continues on in business and the Klein legacy lives on.
My condolences go out to the Klein family and all of Ted's friends.
Extremely sad to hear this. My condolences to his family.
Going to the Gay Street store to look at the wall of brass was a weekend ritual for me and many others.
very sorry to hear of his passing.
Sad to hear. Have visited the Gay street store years ago & have had nothing but good dealings with them past & present. Received order from them today.
Indeed. Spent a lot of time, and money, down on Gay Street. I recall many visits where I went into browse only but left with something in hand. It was that kind of place!
Condolences to the family.
Such a wonderful holiday tradition visiting the old store. Ted was a nice person to talk to and a true vintage train shop owner.
May God bless him and his family. I never met the man and only done mail order with the business. I had nothing but great business dealings with his store.
@trumptrain posted:For many years their old store on Gay Street in Baltimore got a weekly visit from me. The store had a great deal of character and charm all its own. I thought of that store as a model train dept. store with all the different gauges of trains having their own areas. The Large Scale room was my favorite, of course, because that's where the O gauge trains were located .... with large showcases of locomotives.... the narrow isles and shelves overcrowded with an abundance of stock. The staff was super knowledgable, helpful, and always willing to answer questions. I got to know Bob Levine , the manager of the O gauge train quite well. I could call him on the phone with a question and he was always willing to help out. Every staff person at MB Kleins just radiated a true love for model trains. Their enthusiasm was infectious.! Everyone who worked there had a model train layout too!
Those words certainly echo my recollection and memories of the Gay St. store, as well. I was a weekly visitor (and customer) when I lived in Laurel, MD, in the early 90s, and a lot of my O and G trains came from Klein's. I, too, got to know Ted a bit, and agree that ALL of the employees there were first-rate pros at what they did. That store had a certain charm that I remember to this day. My heartfelt condolences to Ted's family, colleagues, and friends.
Anybody have a link to the obituary?
I used to love watching him with his pen and paper adding up your purchases for your total. Always a huge line during during the Christmas rush. The gay street location was always a train guys paradise. Job well done. RIP
@romiller49 posted:I used to love watching him with his pen and paper adding up your purchases For your total. Always a huge line during during the Christmas rush. The gay street location was always a train guys paradise. Job well done. RIP
Regarding the pencil and scratch pad. I once heard that he was also a card counter at playing black jack until the casino would not let him play.
Ted was a local model railroading institution. I bought a ton of merch from his store over the years. Condolences to the Klein family. Ted will be missed.
@Jim R. posted:Anybody have a link to the obituary?
It is not posted yet, I just checked. The link to the funeral parlor is:
https://www.sollevinson.com/obituaries
@PRRMP54 posted:It is not posted yet, I just checked. The link to the funeral parlor is:
https://www.sollevinson.com/obituaries
Found it on Model Train Stuff’s website. A memoriam at least, though not the obit:
@Jim R. posted:Found it on Model Train Stuff’s website. A memoriam at least, though not the obit:
Thank you. I was just going to post that.
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