Concrete Wet Batch Plants in the 1950s
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Allen Cain
I have been searching with no success for a quality HO model of a concrete wet batch plant as a destination for my covered hoppers coming from my Cement Plant and gravel and sand in gondolas and hoppers coming from the quarry.
Can anyone direct me to kit (I have looked at the Faller and Pike kits) and also would like to find some photos of these plants as a scratch build is not out of the question. I also looked at the Walthers Ready Mix kit but it is too modern. These cars need somewhere to go! -- Allen Cain Modeling the Southern in 1955 in HO Scale |
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Kenneth Montero
Allen,
Guts, Gravel & Glory made such a kit:
I don't know if this would meet your needs.
You may have to search Ebay and similar sites to see if one turns up.
Ken Montero
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Not aware of any decent models, but a quick google image search “concrete batch plant 1950s” and “redi-mix plant 1950s” produced photos that could help with kitbashing something. Most were company websites with historic photos. https://ozinga.com/about/our-story/ https://concretesouth.com/about/histories
Walthers Glacier Gravel Company might be a better option, with convenors etc. Kitbash the structure to set on the ground, add silo for cement storage, and lots of trucks.
Doug Harding www.iowacentralrr.org
From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io> On Behalf Of Allen Cain
Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 2021 10:30 PM To: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io Subject: [RealSTMFC] Concrete Wet Batch Plants in the 1950s
I have been searching with no success for a quality HO model of a concrete wet batch plant as a destination for my covered hoppers coming from my Cement Plant and gravel and sand in gondolas and hoppers coming from the quarry. |
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leakinmywaders
Allen: Looks like there's a slide on eBay right now of a Molesworth batch plant that might be helpful:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/124206352514 -- Chris Frissell Polson, MT |
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Jerry Beach
Allen,
I have some photos I took of a plant shortly after the old plant was replaced by a new one. The shots show both the old in contrast with the newer plant. I took these when I was working in Bainbridge, NY in 1990 or 1991. Too many years ago I built a batch plant from a plastic kit that modeled a European plant. IIRC the kit was one that was passed through several manufacturers, Pola, etc. I built it for a friend's layout along with a fleet of 50's mixer trucks, mostly Lindberg models. It never made it onto his layout and I have no idea what happened to it. Jerry Beach 
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John Moore
-- You may be able to kit bash a batch plant. Here are some images of the one from my home town. John B. Moore, Jr. okladivjohn@... |
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Dennis Storzek <dennis@...>
Blaw-Knox Corp. was a big producer of batch plant equipment during the fifties, someplace I have a couple of photos of one of their plants set up along a spur on the Soo Line in northern Wisconsin that had both a dump pit for sand and aggregate, and an under track auger for unloading cement. Unfortunately, since the move I have no idea where they are.
Google did turn up this; too bad it's so expensive: https://www.ebay.com/itm/312724403026 It sounds like is has drawings of the equipment and suggestions for the arrangement... Dennis Storzek |
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Steve SANDIFER
I have been kitbashing the Penny’s Ready-mix for Emporia. I also need cement mixers that are appropriate for the period.
J. Stephen Sandifer
From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io> On Behalf Of Allen Cain
Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 2021 10:30 PM To: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io Subject: [RealSTMFC] Concrete Wet Batch Plants in the 1950s
I have been searching with no success for a quality HO model of a concrete wet batch plant as a destination for my covered hoppers coming from my Cement Plant and gravel and sand in gondolas and hoppers coming from the quarry _._,_._,_ Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group. View/Reply Online (#188900) | Reply To Group | Reply To Sender | Mute This Topic | New Topic __,_._,_ 
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Peter Reinhold
Industrial Model Works, had a Blaw-Knox Cement Plant kit #L-609. This kit has to be from 40 years ago. The list price at the time was $2.95 This looks to be a small, layout sized, plant. Pete Reinhold On 12/14/2021 10:29 PM, Allen Cain
wrote:
I have been searching with no success for a quality HO model of a concrete wet batch plant as a destination for my covered hoppers coming from my Cement Plant and gravel and sand in gondolas and hoppers coming from the quarry. |
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https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ho-hon3-blaw-knox-concrete-plant-538417560
Doug Harding www.iowacentralrr.org
From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io> On Behalf Of Peter Reinhold
Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 2021 7:07 PM To: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io Subject: Re: [RealSTMFC] Concrete Wet Batch Plants in the 1950s
Industrial Model Works, had a Blaw-Knox Cement Plant kit #L-609. This kit has to be from 40 years ago. The list price at the time was $2.95 This looks to be a small, layout sized, plant. Pete Reinhold On 12/14/2021 10:29 PM, Allen Cain wrote:
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Steve SANDIFER
I did a Google search of “1950 readymix plant” and lots of useful images appeared. The internet is such a great source of information. Walthers Black Gold Asphalt would be a good plant to use in a kitbash.
J. Stephen Sandifer
From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io> On Behalf Of Douglas Harding
Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 2021 7:49 PM To: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io Subject: Re: [RealSTMFC] Concrete Wet Batch Plants in the 1950s
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ho-hon3-blaw-knox-concrete-plant-538417560
Doug Harding
From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io> On Behalf Of Peter Reinhold
Industrial Model Works, had a Blaw-Knox Cement Plant kit #L-609. This kit has to be from 40 years ago. The list price at the time was $2.95 This looks to be a small, layout sized, plant. Pete Reinhold On 12/14/2021 10:29 PM, Allen Cain wrote:
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Kenneth Montero
Steve,
Athearn, Boley International, and Life-Like (now owned by Walthers) produced trucks with cement mixer bodies. All are out of production but turn up at train shows, Ebay, etc, as do others.
Walthers has one in stock (https://www.walthers.com/international-r-7600-3-axle-cement-mixer-assembled-white) in their SceneMaster line - too new for your time period, but you may be able to take the mixer off the frame and mount it on a different truck frame.
Sheepscot (now Gandy Dancer Hobbies) has a custom-built model that can be ordered (https://www.gandydancerhobbies.com/product/sheepscot-ih-f230d-redi-mix-concrete-mixer-custom-built/ ) - not cheap at $45.00, but appears to be a custom order item, which may allow you to get lettering and paint that goes with your cement plant. Since they sell some of their truck bodies separately, you may want to ask if they would sell you the cement mixer, which you then mount on a different frame (see below) - I didn't see this body listed separately for sale..
If worse comes to worse (good body on a too-modern truck), remove the cement mixer from one of the out-of-production models) and place it on another truck without a body, such as Classic Metal Works International Harvester R-190 (out of production but often found at train shows, Ebay, etc.) or Wiseman Scale Models (several trucks)(https://wisemanmodelservices.com/HO-Scale-HOn3/HO-SCALE-40-S-MODERN-TRUCKS-AND-TRAILERS ) Please note that most, if not all, such trucks had dual rear axles because of the weight of the equipment plus wet cement.
Ken Montero
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Here is a wonderful track side photo https://www.brunswickmdhistory.com/images/c/ce/Concrete_plant_for_the_new_bridge_in_the_railroad_yards_in_the_early_1950s.jpg
And another https://www.concreteheritagemuseum.org/uploads/2/2/3/4/22348866/griffiths001_orig.jpg
Doug Harding www.iowacentralrr.org |
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HO mixer body from Shapeways https://www.shapeways.com/product/QWQKTHWMM/ho-scale-horizontal-drum-transit-mixer
And a more modern Promotex that perhaps could be backdated https://www.truckstophobbies1-87.com/ho-1-87-promotex-5492-cement-mixer-w-trailer-kit-blue-white/
Doug Harding www.iowacentralrr.org
From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io> On Behalf Of Douglas Harding via groups.io
Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 2021 10:35 PM To: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io Subject: Re: [RealSTMFC] Concrete Wet Batch Plants in the 1950s
Here is a wonderful track side photo https://www.brunswickmdhistory.com/images/c/ce/Concrete_plant_for_the_new_bridge_in_the_railroad_yards_in_the_early_1950s.jpg
And another https://www.concreteheritagemuseum.org/uploads/2/2/3/4/22348866/griffiths001_orig.jpg
Doug Harding |
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I've been campaigning for years to have manufacturers produce a high-quality, 1940s-era transit mixer in plastic or resin. It seems like a no-brainer, as nearly every transition-era modeler could use a few (I could use many more than a few. :) ). Same goes for a batch plant kit. That Shapeways transit mixer offering is the only appropriate 40s-era model available (that I've found) that is available and while it is nice, it's not what I'm looking for at that price point.
Here are a couple nice contemporary models to consider. I've seen them in person at the LHS and they are pretty decent but the price usually is not. They come assembled and with a coat of paint. Bachmann Scenescapes Industrial Silo https://www.trainworld.com/bachmann-35104-industrial-silo-bachmann-35104.html  Bachmann Scenescapes Mixing Hopper https://shop.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=4997 https://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Bachmann-SceneScapes-HO-35101-Mixing-Hopper/  Overall, they are nice models and can be combined and kitbashed to make a really nice period scene. One thing to remember is the batch plants of the 40s and 50s often had different shaped bins, towers, hoppers, etc. Some were square/rectangular, trapezoidal, and others were circular. I'd love to see a comprehensive study of the industry during the transition era. Lots to pull out. On the back burner I plan on 3D modeling a transit mixer body common/specific to the locale/era I model, but I've yet to make time to get it done. Would love to get my hands on some plans...  1941, Bethesda, MD. Cropped from a B&ORRHS Image. (Thanks, Brian) - Ben -- Ben Sullivan Brookeville, MD http://sluggyjunx.com/rr/gb/ |
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Is the second one a rock crusher? There is a stone quarry here in Sterling MA with a huge crusher complex that looks like that, plus a large modern wet batch plant. And maybe a tar-gravel mixer too. I'd love to get inside there and take pictures of it all. Or a drone could do it. 😂 Tim O'Connor On 12/15/2021 11:35 PM, Douglas Harding
wrote:
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Tim O'Connor Sterling, Massachusetts |
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Tim here is the link to the collection where the photo resides https://www.concreteheritagemuseum.org/griffiths-photos.html Says Photos are generally of the construction of the Concrete cement plant in the '20s and '30s. The photo I shared looks like it may be a small cement production facility with a rotary kiln to the far left.
Doug Harding www.iowacentralrr.org
From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io> On Behalf Of Tim O'Connor
Sent: Thursday, December 16, 2021 10:05 AM To: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io Subject: Re: [RealSTMFC] Concrete Wet Batch Plants in the 1950s
On 12/15/2021 11:35 PM, Douglas Harding wrote:
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Guy Wilber
Allen wrote:
"I have been searching with no success for a quality HO model of a concrete wet batch plant as a destination for my covered hoppers coming from my Cement Plant and gravel and sand in gondolas and hoppers coming from the quarry.
Can anyone direct me to kit (I have looked at the Faller and Pike kits) and also would like to find some photos of these plants as a scratch build is not out of the question. I also looked at the Walthers Ready Mix kit but it is too modern." The McGraw Hill publication "Construction Methods and Equipment" would be an excellent source of information if you can locate period issues. Hathi has copies from the 1920s available to view, but later issues are subject to the copyright. There may be holdings within larger institutions or you may be able to find copies (for sale) on the net.
My father was a Highway Engineer and subscribed to the magazine which was second only to MR and RMC (for my interests) when it arrived in the mail each month. The magazine was chock full of advertising from manufacturers of every type of construction equipment as well as comprehensive articles on road, bridge and railroad construction projects complete with photos.
Guy Wilber
Reno, Nevada
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Clarence Zink
Here are a couple of concrete company websites to look at for ideas:
https://www.matichcorp.com/ https://ozinga.com/ I grew up in Evergreen Park, Ill., original home of the Ozinga concrete company. They poured the driveway and garage floor for my family in the 1950's, and probably the majority of basements and foundations for any construction back in "the day". In the 1950's and '60's, they were located in the wedge of land between the RR tracks (GTW/CN??), 95th street, and Troy Ave. I walked past there every day in High School. Coordinates from Google Maps are 41.720448, -87.700255. Today it is a parking lot. Back in the 1950's & 60's, they had a rail spur coming off the left main to the southeast of the plant about at about 96th Place & Utica. I remember seeing hopper cars of coal, and covered hoppers (probably cement), in their yard on occasion. CRZ |
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Dennis Storzek <dennis@...>
On Wed, Dec 15, 2021 at 07:24 PM, Kenneth Montero wrote:
Walthers has one in stock (https://www.walthers.com/international-r-7600-3-axle-cement-mixer-assembled-white) in their SceneMaster line - too new for your time period, but you may be able to take the mixer off the frame and mount it on a different truck frame.Two comments, the hydraulically operated "training wheels" weight transfer device seems to have been developed in the late sixties, and since it adds to the total load the truck can carry, the mixing drum is likely too large for an older three axle truck... the drum looks too fat to my eye. This modern prototype is also lacking the characteristic crosswise water tank mounted high just behind the cab. Dennis Storzek |
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