P.O Box 323
Boxford, MA 01921-0323
jg@shore.net
(508) 887-7406
URL: http://www.jjhobby.com/

35% discount on Märklin. We can't beat it. Jim is a swell guy to deal with to boot. He had a toll-free number but had to disconnect it to maintain his discount in light of the 1995 Märklin USA price hikes. (Remember he is an authorized dealer.) What a gent. Contacting him is a little strange. You have to leave a message and he calls you back in the evening. But he always calls you back and probably the same day. And now you can reach him via email at the address above! He doesn't take credit cards so you'll have to mail him a check. If it's in the catalog and you don't need it the next day Jim's your man.

If they've got it in stock and you want it immediately Stoneleigh's the place to shop. And they are very well stocked indeed. We've never dealt with an organization of any type that had such an efficient shipping department. You call up (not Monday or Sunday- they're closed), ask if they have it in stock, give 'em your name, address and credit card number (unless you've ordered before then they look it up for you after you get off the phone - you will have to give them a hint like your name) and the stuff is in your hands in two days - sometimes just one day. We're in NYC so maybe it'll be faster or slower where you are but you can be sure they send it out very quickly.

The people there are wonderful. Friendly, patient and knowledgeable. Every invoice we receive comes with signed original hand-drawn artwork. It makes us smile. They will mail you quarterly sale lists full of items that you might actually want. We often found many items of interest. Stoneleigh pays shipping on all orders totalling $200 or more. Orders of $1,000 or more get 5% discount. If you purchase $3,000 or more in the previous 12 months then you're in their Platinum Club which means free shipping on everything for a year from the date of qualification and 5% discount off their prices.

23 West 45 Street, Downstairs
New York, NY 10036
(212) 575-0155 FAX 212-575-0272
Monday - Saturday 10AM to 7PM

An extremely interesting place. It was here we discovered Z scale while shopping for a Holiday gift. We returned almost every day for a month and regularly since. The shop is crammed with every type of model railroad product imaginable. It's almost completely disorganized (new location, give them time and it will be complete) but therein lies much of it's Manhattan store-front (in a basement) charm. You will love it or hate it. Their Märklin prices are not spectacular. We consider the 8.25% NY sales tax an entertainment fee. Mail order shopping is less expensive but you don't experience the passion as employees shout insults at each other (sometimes with audience participation) while simultaneously discussing advancements in digital technology complete with operatic background music.

Regarding Z there is a 7 foot high display case depicting a nuclear test site. Within it you'll find rare limited issue cars, ancient box sets (E.g., 8100), brand new items, and structures preassembled, partly assembled, demolished or in mint condition in their boxes. If it's in the catalog it's reasonably discounted, if not, the price is anyone's guess including the shop keeper's.

If you care to engage in intelligent conversation about the hobby (or the Arts, or politics for that matter) and you have a reasonable amount of patience you'll find willing participants. The proprietors possess vast knowledge of matters technical and aesthetic. One of the their major activities is layout construction. Salesmanship is not the strong point here but open and direct communication backed by knowledge and experience is. And if you can convince them that you know what you're doing you will probably be permitted to buy something.

83 Brookshire Drive
Warrenton, VA 20186
(540) 349-4910
email: hhs@helmutshobbies.com
URL: http://www.helmutshobbies.com/

Scott Housman is Helmuts. He's a Märklin enthusiast (a Trustee of the MEA), an excellent source of information for operators and collectors, and a great provider of merchandise for his customers. Scott mails out a hefty little quarterly newsletter, Hobby Insights, free of charge. It features Announcements, News from Märklin, Specials, etc. This newsletter is one of the best things we find in our mailbox. Scott has a knack for uncovering interesting collections that go up for sale. It's from him we first learned about the Edmondson and Levine lists. There were plenty of interesting bargins when these lists were fresh. He also calls us on occasion when he has a one of a kind item we might be interested in. We are!

Helmuts does repair and conversion of all Märklin trains. He keeps a large quantity of parts in stock and his prices are good. His prices for items in general are very good, up there with the best including Jim on non limited locomotives. And... you can call Scott directly. And... he does take credit cards.

Günter Fortkord
Berliner Str. 109
33330 Gütersloh
Germany
Fax: 0049-5241-28492

We don't know if Modellbahnversand is an Authorized Märklin dealer but it's more well stocked than many who are. We've heard some negative rumours concerning Günter's operation and all have been unfounded. We've been dealing with him for years and so have some of our most knowledgeable HO friends. Were satisfied Modellbahnversand is a legitimate, honest operation with incredible stock and low prices.

Günter used to send us a pricelist about twice a year but it's been a while. I'm told he takes credit cards now, and you can pay by personal check in US Dollars mailed to his US Branch Office. At this time of this update (4/2005) it's been a very long time since I've bought anything. If you order something expect delivery will take about 4 weeks. His packing leaves something to be desired. Although we've never received damaged goods (we buy insurance anyway) it wouldn't hurt to ask him to add some extra wads of newspaper to your package. I believe GF is doing business on ebay these days as k1200s.

1145 E. Philadelphia Avenue (Rt. 73)
Gilbertsville, PA 19525
Phone: (610) 367-5925
Fax: (610) 367-5925
email: mdlbahn@ptdprolog.net
URL: http://www.modellbahnott.com/
Orders Only: (800) 635-2246 (1-800-MDL-BAHN)
Hours: Mon-Thu 11-8, Fri 11-9, Sat 10-8 and Sun 11-5. Closed on some Holidays.

Modellbahn Ott meets or exceeds our high vendor standards in all categories (price, availability, product and technical knowledge, transaction ease, and customer tolerance skills.) They are particularly expert with digital technology and issues of electricity in general. They offer their own line of digital products. Modellbahn Ott mails out a hefty little newsletter periodically (available at their web site too). It contains useful information about new and special products, sales information, policies, and a complete itemized discount price list for Märklin, Kibri and Faller. It also contains "additional discount" coupons dated for redemption in each of the coming six months.

They offer toll-free ordering, extra 5-10% savings on Spring preorders of NEW items and we're told, free insults over the phone, although we've yet to have been so graced. For what it's worth (probably plenty to Mr. Bill) Modellbahn Ott is one of the (or the #1) most prolific Märklin, Inc. dealer. Z sales make up a very significant percentage of their dollar volume. And it's been up in recent years This is a good thing. Although certainly everyone at Modellbahn Ott exhibits the 12 Scout virtues we tend to deal with Bill Ott himself. He is most conveniently contacted via email at mdlbahn@ptdprolog.net.

312 E. Oakland Park Blvd.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334
Phone: (954) 564-2440
Fax: (954) 564-5367
email: sales@discount-train.com
url: http://www.discount-train.com/

Discount Train is a great source of hard-to-find as well as common Z scale rolling stock and accessories. The proprietor, Rick, keeps a large stock on hand, discounts most items at least 20%, and is very adept at obtaining rare pieces at good to excellent prices. For example, when the 'Cheese' Loco had just come out we found several at Discount Train priced half that being asked by collectors (the few that had them). There apparently have excellent connections to the Heimat.

Mail order service from Discount Train is fast and convenient. Rick answers the phone and accepts major credit cards. He has email too (see above) which we think is a big plus. We're electronic impulse buyers. Discount Train sends out a 2-sided (14") newsletter every couple months describing new offerings, sales, etc. There's a lot of stuff other than Z news but we forgive him. Because... when Rick has some interesting Z news (such as a collection he's run across or some new items not available in the US) he'll fax us. We like that a lot.

P.O. Box 3039
Milwaukee, WI 53201-3039

URL: http://www.walthers.com/
Phone: 1-414-527-0770

Walthers is the primary source in North America for Z scale accessories. They also sell Micro-Trains and (through their retail subsidiary, Terminal Hobby Shop) Märklin. Almost every retailer we know of gets their Kibri, Vollmer, Noch, etc., through Walthers. We say "almost", if your Walther's dealer can't get it try Helmuts' Hobby Specialties. The Walthers N&Z catalog is a great asset. Although the Z contents could just as well be published as a brochure it does have the most comprehensive collection of Z accessories and Micro-Trains in one publication.

227 S. 3rd St.
Geneva, Illinois 60134

email: euro-trains@inil.com
URL: http://www.euro-trains.com/
Phone: 1-888-762-6872
Illinois or outside USA: +1 630 262 0771
Fax: +1 630 262 0778

We've been dealing with Reynauld's for years. They may have the hard-to-find item you're looking for. They've come through for us more than once in the distant and recent past. They are an importer of Railex products. This could be a good thing as Railex product is so difficult to obtain.

17 Arnold St.
Etobicoke, Ontario
Canada M8Z 5A5

email: Mike_Sorge@compuserve.com
URL: http://www.westendtrains.com
Phone: +1 (416) 251-6124
Fax: +1 (416) 251-8980

We deal with Mike Sorge at Westend Toronto Trains. Mike keeps us up-to-date with new items, specials, and collections that he has for sale. One of the interesting things about Westend is they seem to sell at a discount from the US retail pricelist but in Canadian Dollars. Not bad...

614 Wooster Pike
Terrace Park, OH 45174
(513)248-1999 Phone
(800)284-8318 Orders
(513)248-2312 Fax

email: tedstrains@core.com
URL: http://www.tedstrains.com/
Phone: 1 (800) 284-8318

Ted's been pushing trains as long as I can remember. He formerly managed the Garden Railway Co. Now he's got his own business. His discounts are healthy (30% last time we looked) and he aims to please. He's emailable and has a web page (see above).

3177 Futura Point
Thousand Oaks, CA 91362-4654
email: casaroyale@vcnet.com
Phone: (805) 492-8777

Casa Royale is well stocked Z guage supplier. Their prices are competetive and their product lines are diverse. We were able to obtain the much sought after and hard to find Merten "Women Hanging Up Laundry" figures from their inventory. Ask for their 12 page pricelist.

George Kuhn
Kuhn EUROBAHN Trains
42 West Market Street
Marietta PA 17547 USA

Voice - 717-426-2090
FAX - 717-426-3422
email: gkuhn@eurobahntrains.com
URL: http://www.eurobahntrains.com