More on the Kingsbridge Scale Model Shop
One early OO firm, only touched on briefly in my book (on page 24), is the Kingsbridge Scale Model Shop. Thanks to a recent (Dec. 2024) post in the OO group by Cary, we now know much more about this pioneering American OO manufacturer.
The Apartment Railroad
First, what got me back to writing this article was the need to clean up around the layout area, as we will have new blinds installed soon. One thing that needed put away was my binder of early issues of The Model Craftsman. I had it out because I was looking at early issues after the Cary post. One of the few issues I had no access to (and still don’t have) is the August 1933 issue. But Cary has it, and in that we find this article by Charles G. Cunningham on building a NYC Hudson, part I of the series.

I have the remainder of the series, which continues in the September and October 1933 issues and then concludes in the January 1934 issue. Although that was not his plan, as the text in January states that “Next month we shall start on the tender.” I do have the run of issues that follows, and there is no published article on the tender. However, I would mention one other article by Cunningham on “Accepted Rail Standards for the “00” Gauge Railroads” in that same January issue, including third rail standards. I would suspect they reflect NYSME standards of the time.
Cunningham produced a Hudson
Returning to the Facebook post by Cary, the Hudson that I mentioned in my book was in fact produced. First, two views of the 1933 Hudson model.


With the model Cary found a price list, with prices effective July 1, 1933. Besides section one of a “construction set” for the Hudson there are a number of parts listed for separate sale, some, such as the trailing truck side frames, being cast in “special metal.”
More than a Hudson!
Beyond the Hudson, he clearly had some big plans. As to powered equipment, he says that an 0-6-0 and a gas electric will be available “next month.” There are several parts listed that would be associated with these models.
He does not list a passenger car, but he does offer Commonwealth 6 wheel passenger truck side frames. The most interesting new models (not found mentioned in my book!) are the freight cars. He lists the following freight car construction sets:
- Bettendorf trucks, complete
- Freight car casting sets that included a pair of trucks. striking plates, and brake cylinder castings
- Santa Fe refrigerator car, with wood parts, drawings, and the casting set above
- NYC flat car — complete as above
And there was to be a standard tank car next month. Plus, he helpfully sold brass running rail and third rail, products that would certainly help a fellow modeler get right to work in 19 mm gauge.
How many of any of the above models and parts survive is so hard to say, but they must be extremely rare. Thank you again Cary for posting about this great find.
