KEY v/s Lionel "scale" F3's.

[up148]

I've never seen pre-production components so that is pretty cool.

[E7]

So Key is Samhongsa?

A lot of this stuff is to the best of my knowledge! If you know better, feel free to correct!

Ted McKey (hope I got that right) would be the guy to tell the tale. (Not sure if he is still with us.) Maybe Dave DeVita (son in law)

This is to the best of my knowledge aka hearsay: Samhongsa was owned by a Mr. Lee. They had a machine that punched out the EMD noses. From what I gathered from my late lamented friend Henry Bultmann, some tweaking needed done after they were formed.

Sam made a pile of stuff in different gauges.

When Samhongsa ceased to be, Sam Model Tech was formed by some of the old Samhongsa employees.

I think others like Boo Rim Precision also came out of Sam's ashes.


Rich

[Pacific Limited]

Samhongsa was building for Key-Imports since 1982 or so, when Dave took over and since the demise of Samhongsa (Lionel-MTH Big Boy Lawsuit) FM Train Model had begun production for Key-Model-Imports, they built the FTs but those models had a lot of outsourcing going on, Chinese parts that were not as good as home grown but the final product was still beautiful. No more Sam after 2000.

Samhongsa did indeed split up and Mr Oh (the Godfather of Korean Brass) passed away a few years ago and a few master minds behind Samhongsa kept at it as Sam Tech, and a few other small ventures. Tooling was dispersed and in HO the bulk of Samhongsa tools and such went to Coach Yard, Fred Hill and he keeps them busy at Sam Tech doing amazing HO passenger equipment. These Korean companies outsource parts now from China like trucks. As Mr Lewis says his incomparable trucks take 3 hands and are amazing works of art. Cherish those. Never again. Mr Oh was amazing. God rest his talented soul.

Se Ho at BooRim is really a solid contender for the best overall in Korea that’s left now. His HO steam is the finest period. He has taken the reigns that Sam had building for Ikleson at Challenger in Des Moines and W&R, setting the bar so far beyond anything ever done before. My friend Jimmy Booth (Glacier Park Models) has reached heights in HO never thought possible with BooRim. BooRim also builds for Protocraft. The recent upset with Art Hobbies whom built the “Mona-Lisa of Brass Models” the incredible Key-Model-Imports Cab Forward in 2017 has gotten into something off with Wasatch not sure what or how or why but it’s all a reflection of the state of the brass industry as it stands in 2026. It is not anything like it was 10 years ago, and sure as hell is nothing like it was in 1988 when Samhongsa was churning out F and E units in HO, N, and O scales like mass production models in plastic.

What about WBM, Woosong, he made some nice stuff! And really set the bar on detailing not seen by anyone before him. Those Division Point RDC Budd cars. Whoa! The freight cars he built for Pacific Limited. All bar raising stuff. I mean the list goes on. Westside, Precision Scale both California and Montana. The early years like RedBall and PFM… so much history. And Rich Yoder! Ghee whiz the treasure that fine fella has made us. We owe him a debt of gratitude.

I miss ATM, thier paint shop was amazing. Ajin was so prolific in the 80-90s, OMI is Ajin, when OMI stopped projects it was tragic and ATM the later version of Ajin did some high profile work for Jack at Division Point and they still do stuff now but it was nothing like it was. They were nearly as big at Sam. Tom Marsh kept them busy for decades, and some early models were problematic but it was sorted out and by the time the millennial closed they made some of the best O scale models ever built. And many are the high water mark for their prototypes. I doubt we will ever see this again, the modern six-axle power OMI and Ajin did between 1998-2003 was astonishing. Jack bought out ATM’s entire collection and it looks like Bill Davis made some acquisitions as well when they broke up.

Theo Berlyn BLW he really did some neat stuff with Jack at Division Point. Both of them were good at finding new talent. Theo was using India for awhile on some ON3 and FN3 stuff.

We all know the magic Scott Mann has managed this last decade. Wow, what a miracle worker, how he did these projects and at his prices is nothing short of miracles. Incredible, his stuff is easily worth 2-3 times what he charges. I hope Jay keeps it up.

I am with you E7, not an expert but know some things running the brass department at Caboose Hobbies on South Broadway in Denver, CO all those years. I miss that world and met a lot of these good guys and have since become friends with several like Jack Vansworth who really is today’s Brass-Whisperer if there is one. Unlike everyone else he’s making money doing it in HO. Unfortunately O scale is, well, let’s put it this way; we need new younger blood, now.

Lot of history

Keep spreading the word, o scale is cool. In the meantime enjoy what’s been built, and there’s lot.

[up148]

Incredible information Erik and I never tire of hearing it. I learned a great deal from your post and so happy you made such a concise analysis for us. I'd heard bit and pieces of it before, but not all and what I got was disjointed. Your years at Caboose and working with KEY has made you a guru of information.

I knew Samtech came from Samhongsa and forgot about the lawsuit. But, didn't know Mr. Lee who later built some of the great KOH's models with his own company had headed up Samhongsa. Mr. Oh's trucks are second to none. And I agree, Boo Rims is an incredible builder.

I didn't realize Jack Vansworth was still with us, always nice to know some of the pioneers of the brass hobby are still with us.

I miss that world and met a lot of these good guys

I think we all do, but at least we were fortunate enough to be alive during the period of some very significant brass importers....Golden Days IMHO.

[sleepmac]

Erik, most fascinating. Thank you!

Dan Weinhold

[E7]

Erik, Thanks for the additional! Always fascinating to learn more. Be a dream if ALL those folks could write a chapter in THE book of brass. Sadly some are no longer with us. I solidly agree with Bob T. "Me Like Metal!" LOL