Brass Train Books

There are several books that cover the Brass Train and
associated brass equipment. Most are of the paperback variety.
In this discussion we will review both hardback and paperback
brass model train books. There are numerous model train books
available however, brass model train books are somewhat limited.

The brass model train books that I am most familiar with will be
reviewed in the following tutorial.

Many catalogs of brass trains have been published by Pacific
Fast Mail (PFM), Balboa, and others. These catalogs ran for
several years with the latest colored pictures of those engines
being imported into the United States. This form of
advertisement has ceased and the catalogs have become collector
items. They are useful in determining what has been manufactured
in the past.

In 1976 “Lenahan’s Locomotive Lexicon” by James Lenahan
was published which covered HO scale brass locomotives. The
first addition was published in 1974 in which only 1000 copies
were made. This is a limited book on brass locomotives produced
up until 1976. It has several brass engines from various
collections illustrated in the paperback. All pictures are black
& white. This book can help in determining paint schemes for
several locomotives.

The third edition of “The Brown Book of Brass Locomotives”
was published in 1992 by John Glaab. The 1st and 2nd edition of
the Brown Book were published in 1980 and 1982 by R. A. Brown.
This is a comprehensive paperback with both black and white
pictures and model production with manufacturers listed. It
includes the Whyte Wheel Arrangement Classification for all
types of steam locomotives. It is an excellent book.

The Art of Brass in Model Railroading: Volume I. By No Author.
After the Second World War Japan emerged both as a market for
and, later, as an exporter of brass model trains. Kumata &
Company Limited, the subject of this volume, was one of these
enterprising manufacturers, with their various model trains
numbering over a thousand. This details the rare pieces produced
by K.M.T. together with many other outstanding brass rail
models. I have not yet seen this book but have it on order. The
copyright was in 1982. It is out of print and I had to order it
from the United Kingdom as a used book.

An Important American Model Train Collection Including Lionel,
Scale Brass and LGB Models, Vintage Posters and Photographs.
[Lehmann Gross Bahn. Marklin. Magnus. MTH. Sunnyside. Weawer
Models. Key Imports. Winston Link..]. 20/12/2006. This book is
also out of print and I had to order it from the United Kingdom.
My interest in this book is the discussion on Key Imports and
other scale brass models.

The most important book on brass trains is “The Brass Train
Guide Book” by Dan Glasure. This book was just released and
the copyright is 2007. As stated in the front of the book “The
Most Comprehensive Collection of Brass Model Train Data
Available”. This is a fact. The illustrations of steam and
diesel engines are colored with the correct color scheme when
painted. There is a section on brass equipment such as passenger
cars, freight cars, bridges, towers, etc. No one has ever
collected and published such a comprehensive book on brass
locomotives. This is an ongoing project. The author is trying to
find every type of scale brass locomotive, cars, passenger
equipment, structures, bridges, etc. imported into the United
States and Canada including the importer and Manufacturer.

Include with the hardbound book is a Price and Data Guide Volume
I. This a 520 page paperback of the most complete listing of
imported brass models and the associated coverage of the
manufacture, number manufactured, importer, description, catalog
#, BG-SKU#, railroad/owner, etc. There are a series of notes for
each lot in most cases.

In reviewing the hardbound book I have found engines that I did
not know had been manufactured. The paint schemes used on
various engines and roads is very important for now I can have
several of my brass engines painted correctly. This set of books
is helping me with our Brass Locomotive Works business.

This hobby is truly an art form because of the intricate
craftsmanship that goes into building a brass model.

Article Source: http://collectibles-articles.com

Michael and Joy Ball have been involved in the restoration and maintaining of a variety of Brass Model Locomotives. Through their years of expertise, Mr. and Mrs. Ball have perfected the art of train restoration often spending countless hours preserving vintage Brass Locomotives to running condition.

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