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 Posted - July 15 2024 : 6:44:05 PM
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While looking through my Model Railroader issues I noticed on the back of the Feb 1949 issue there was an ad for a Mantua Little B. Under the ad was a box saying Mantua and their 'famous automatic layout' were going to be at the World Hobby Show. Has anyone ever heard of this? I can't find anything when searching it online. Is it the same layout used in the ad?
The front and back covers are reprints, done by the guy I got it from, I'm sure it's the correct back, as the front cover is right.
Another thing, does anyone know if Mantua used this layout in anything else, or if there are any other pictures in general? Photo from Ho seeker as it was higher quality.
"A place for everything, everything in its place."
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Posted - July 16 2024 : 11:13:45 PM
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Very interesting. I looked through my documentation and could not find the Little Bee.
See this link: http://www.tcawestern.org/tyco.htm
Scroll down and you'll see this: In 1952 sales of the little 0-4-0T 'Little B' switcher kits, introduced in 1949, exceeded 20,000. It was priced at $19.95 (kit #206). The small workhorse switcher featured a Mantua PM-1 electric motor with positive power pick-up. The catalogue copy stated that it could pull a string of 15 all-metal Mantua cars with ease. In 1949 Mantua was placing full page ads on the back cover of every issue of Model Railroader magazine. During this period the trains were packaged in green cardboard boxes and marketed as 'Little Trains'.
FYI, one of our members, Redneck Justin, posted a picture of this engine. You may want to PM him for more details and see if he knows more about this.
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Posted - July 17 2024 : 12:47:02 PM
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Guess I should have worded it a bit better. I know about the little B's existence, but I've never heard of Mantua's automatic layout.
"A place for everything, everything in its place."
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Posted - July 18 2024 : 5:03:51 PM
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| Nope, I had never seen that picture until you posted it.
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