What is an Icken Motor?

[ScaleCraft]

Open frames for doorstops seemed to be various K&D, and various Pittmans, but Keith Will seems to have a focus on Icken Motors, all sorts of stuff refers to "probably had an Icken motor".

I cannot imagine the disparity in manufacture from locos, rolling stock...then motors.

Anybody have any ideas?

[bob turner]

Yes. I believe they were all K&D motors, to which the various manufacturers put their own labels on. I think Pittman does that as well.

[ScaleCraft]

So, Keith Wills in his 0 gauge tome, just had a mental issue with everybody using Icken motors? And they'r K&D's?

I find so MUCH to laugh at in that book.

Like page 27, "Conclusions", first sentence....with the attack on Pearl Harbor on January 7th, 1941.....

Or the MU cars under Alexander that were probably Icken....NO supporting documentation...but his get out of jail card seems to be "probably"

[sarge]

That book is not very accurate and the editing is really rushed; just not a reference to be remotely trusted. Its an anthology of mythology wrapped reverently in sloppiness of presentation.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

.

[bob turner]

I gave my copy away. Ugh!

[Rufus T. Firefly]

I gave my copy away. Ugh!

You got the better part of the bargain!

[E7]

Like page 27, "Conclusions", first sentence....with the attack on Pearl Harbor on January 7th, 1941.....

It does tend to sabotage the credibility a tad!

[bob turner]

Are you saying the attack was not Dec 7?

[ScaleCraft]

Are you saying the attack was not Dec 7?

Read what I wrote. Right off page 27 of Keith's book.

Says JANUARY 7th, 1941.

Before I talked to Jimmy I found so much stuff wrong, so much left out, so much mentioned but not elaborated upon....they I heard about the review. And apparently nobody ever saw that reference.

[sarge]

Bob, Dave is quoting the book, not saying “January 7th” himself.

That book is a perfect example of what could have been a useful reference completely made useless by the lack of peer review and editing of the book in the rush to put out a product. The publisher did not understand their roles and responsibilities.

To be somewhat generous to the publisher, they publish a lot of journals for various historical societies, so are very used to the editors of those journals being both the peer reviewers and editorial reviewers of the material. The publisher in question is then is only responsible for art, layout, and printing.

In this case, it would never occur to them, because they don’t have the background, that they were in the editorial hotseat with Kieth’s book, instead just assumed (perhaps because of the author’s stature with one of their own magazines) everything was properly researched and edited, straight to art, layout and print like everything else they do. Thus, they printed a damaged and damaging piece, one that people unknowingly will use as a reference.

I won’t give away my copy, just to keep it out of anyone else's hands.

[ScaleCraft]

I was given this copy, and studying it carefully.
When I find stuff I know to be wrong, I note said BS.

Then there are other things like this thread...Icken motors.
I can't right now tell you how many place he says "probably had an Icken motor"...but NO supporting documentation (like a catalog reference that so states), but I do know from personal experience.....0 gaugers who supposedly know all this shXt make an off-hand comment....and it sticks.
Did someone say in the author's hearing "probably had an Icken motor" and it's off to the races.

I had that happen to me 30 years or so ago.

I got a heavyweight coach. Cleaned it up, painted it, decalled it.....and asked one of the locals who made it (no names or part numbers anywhere). Typical wood roof with clerestory, wood floor, cast ends and SIDES, sides held on the countersunk flathead screws.

"Oh, that's an early ScaleCraft", which I do know there is such a thing......so I took this ex-spurts word for it.

Found out many years later it's an Alexander (probably with an Icken motor, right?).

I should probably find a copy of the "review" of this tome.

[sarge]

I’m certainly not starchy white in the petticoats on this one. I’ve repeated and probably even originated a few O Scale history clangers myself over the years. Most of us who have been in it for a half-century or better have, simply because with experience one tends to be less careful vetting the facts one “knows”.

It was one reason I liked Jim’s take on a history column in OST; not another old phart repeating what he remembered but a younger man who hadn’t been in O long enough to “know” everything, so instead digging about without preconception in the manner of a historian.

Like Harry Truman said, “It’s what you learn after you know everything that really counts.”

[E7]

I’m certainly not starchy white in the petticoats on this one. I’ve repeated and probably even originated a few O Scale history clangers myself over the years. Most of us who have been in it for a half-century or better have, simply because with experience one tends to be less careful vetting the facts one “knows”.

A very forgivable 'offense' in my opinion. Opinion being the operative word, aka one man's meat is another man's poison. The great variety out there makes it difficult to find true nirvana.

Then there is finding accurate unbiased references, knowing that what you yourself is pursuing is the one true path!

[ScaleCraft]

More reading.....passenger cars. Says Central Models made copper side and end cars.
And so far, not one place do I find any reference to "Exacta".

And it doesn't say "Central Locomotive Works".