Model Train Journal

What years were they in business? Late 40's, early 50's, don't know how much later.

I have a copy of a 1933 catalog that says "More than four years ago we originated, developed and offered to model railroad builders, the FIRST freight car kits with the side and end panels Painted and Lettered, .....". Based on that, they started in 1929, or perhaps a little earlier.

I don't know when the company went out of business, but I think someone continued the line under another name.

Steve

Hello all... Westbrook was a around for a long time ...a study into thier history would be interesting ...to see how the kits change over the years .
Here is a Westbrook ad found in February 1935 Model Craftsman.
Cheers Carey

Great. Thanks.

I’m thinking at least the 1950’s but not home to look through stuff. I know I do have a 1941 catalog.

The Westbrook line was picked up by Bob Peare sometime after the war. I have a 1952 Bob Peare catalog that carries the Trackmaster, Westbrook, Train Craft, and Essex lines. Not sure how long it lasted. At some point the kits were sold in a similar-style blue box used by Peare for the Trackmaster switches and cross-overs. The box label said Bob Peare, not Westbrook, but as best I can tell there was little if any change to the kits themselves.

Jim

I have a couple of cars that have cut-down (in length) Westbrook frames and I am somewhat sure that the cars themselves are not Westbrook products. So, that begs the question, did Westbrook sell parts?

Sort of. You could buy just the underframe, or just the top. Two different boxes. Nice, heavy underframes for good tracking.

Last spring I dug out the only Westbrook Kit I had and built it. Took some effort to get it built correctly, but once completed it is indeed a satisfying model, and is now one of my favorites.

Robert

Robert wrote:Last spring I dug out the only Westbrook Kit I had and built it. Took some effort to get it built correctly, but once completed it is indeed a satisfying model, and is now one of my favorites. Robert

It's a peach for sure.....were the parts painted and lettered like it states on the box in Carey's image above? Rich

Their Feb 1950 ad in MR showed their address as Hasbrouck Heights NJ as did prior ads. Their Mar 1950 ad in MR said “Subsidiary of Bob Peare Engineering Co." and showed an address in Clifton, NJ.

The kits were sold as a body kit, and separately they offered a hardware kit, that had the underframe and steps etc . Even the reefer body kits did not have the reefer door hardware, you needed to buy the hardware kit. A few kits were sold in larger (deeper) boxes that contained both the body parts and the hardware parts; as I remember, they were labeled complete kits.

They also sold the sides separately, both box cars and reefers (I have a bunch). I think the gondola sides were also offered separately (I have a few). I have never seen a Westbrook kit that had sides that were not painted and lettered. Painted and lettered sides were their claim to fame.

Robert, that is a very fine gondola!

Steve

Hello all .. here are some pages from the 1939,40 and 41 Westbrook catalogs ...showing what you got for 1.00 ...

Westbrook also pictured assorted Icken engines in the back of the catalog ..price on request ..save the little diesel /electric for 42.00...
Hasbouck Heights is a short distance to Palisades Park ..where Icken was located for the 30's .

Westbrook end sills/ beams did not fair well when Kadee's invaded the coupler world

Cheers Carey

E7 wrote:

Robert wrote:Last spring I dug out the only Westbrook Kit I had and built it. Took some effort to get it built correctly, but once completed it is indeed a satisfying model, and is now one of my favorites. Robert

It's a peach for sure.....were the parts painted and lettered like it states on the box in Carey's image above? Rich

Rich...the only painted parts where the two cardstock sides. That color set the standard for finishing the rest of the model. The kit was in pristine condition when I acquired it so I felt the color on the sides likely wasn't faded. Copying it became somewhat of a challenge. Sarge lent his expertise for its proper finishing. I added extra details not included in the original kit.

Robert

Robert,

Your image of the car is a testimonial to your workmanship.

Rich

E7 wrote:Robert,

Your image of the car is a testimonial to your workmanship.

Rich

Not only that, it demonstrates that these older kits really can be built up to make very nice models.