The Wyandotte herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1879-1943, 1942-06-26
Lights Of Network
by Il.MNNSON

mC0el DOl10lnR ID eXCe0cut escape
from the strain of war, according
to Clark Pool, president Of the New
York Society of Model Engineers.
As proof, Mr.. Pool cites reports
from heavily bombed areas Of Great
Britain which show that, despite diff
ficulty In obtaining materials, model
building not only continues, but In
many instances models, especially
those of railroads, are taken into
bomb shelters. The New York So
ciety, the largest and oldest anna
teur matchmaking organization In
the world, maintains in its Knicker-
booker building headquarters at
And and Broadway, "the crossroads
of the world" the country's largest
model railroad layout. There are
more than 5000 feet Of track, 5000
feet of which are main line, together
with switches, signals and every de-
vice necessary for modern railroad
ing.
Almost every trade and profession
is included in the membership Of the
New York society. There are
janitors, painters, doctors, dentists,
lawyers, business men, writers, en-
gineers and others all drawn to-
gether by a common interest in
models Midget power boats, archl-
tectual, airplane, in fact all kinds
of models are built by the lobbyists.
Those interested in railroads form
the largest group. The society S
railroad layout is in operation only
during the annual two-week show.
1t does not lie idle the rest of the
time, however. Just as is the case
with real railroads, work goes on
continuously. That is, whenever So
ciety members can find free time
from their occupations, which is
generally during the evening hours.
Work on the present rayout was
begun 312 years ago when the So
ciety, to obtain larger quarters,
moved from the third floor to the
basement of the Knickerbocker
building. 1t will not be completed
for. from five to eight years. Even
then it won't be finished as the pres
ent layout is only about 60 per cent
Of the complete plan. 1t takes eight
men to operate the system. There
are dispatchers, train orders, time
tables as on regular railroads.
Not only do society members keep
abreast Of the times, but also ahead
of them. For instance, they were
the first to use an intricate push
button in and out interlock which at
present, gets trains in and out of
Grand Central Terminal.
The 1912 show of the society,
which closed recently, was its 14th.
It is the first in which foreign coun-
tries were not represented, that be-
ing due, of course, to the world war.
In the past, models have come
from as far away as Australia.
Priorities have their effect on model
building as some materials are es-
sential. Nevertheless, the model
builders are continuing with their
hobby, Mr.. Pool said, and probably
will for the duration.
In preparation for a recital, Edna
Phillips, harpist, took a vacation
from her husband and two small
children. In tiny hotel over in the
Pocono mountains, she practiced
to her hearts content until one day
she heard her landlady, a wizened
old Pennsylvania Dutch type, ex-
planning to man inquiring about
room for friend that she could
give him one at a slightly re-
duced rate because there's a lady
next door who keeps peggin' away
at harp at all hours"
ooh, my friend won't mind that"
the man replied. Hes very near
ly deaf"
Miss Phillips annoyance changed
to amusement, when her landlady
shot back sharply, well, in that
case. I'll have to charge full price"
Al one of the night-clubs, an air
minded actor, whose conceit is
legend along Broadway, was under
discussion. Funny thing" volun-
teered Ed East, "his egotism almost
killed him the other night. He was
flying over the city when a search
light picked him up-and the dope
stood up to take bowl"
BELL Syndicate-WNU Service)