Magazines who owned what?

[Pacific231G]

Model Railway News - Didn't it start off with Percival Marshall around 1927.

January 1925 was the first MRN. Its title page was Model Railway News, Clockwork, Steam and Electric. It was published by Percival Marshall & Co. and the annual subscription was 7s 6d (37.5p). I've got access to most of the pre war and wartime volumes and they provide a fascinating insight into the early history of our hobby as it emerged from model engineering. Percival Marshall was also the editor and publisher of the far earlier Model Engineer magazine.

[bbishop]

Actually Mike Peascod

 

Bill

[Ravenser]

Henry Greenly's Model Railways and Locomotives was originally published by Model Railway Press but later by The Technical Publishing Company. Whether this constitutes a change of owner or the same company under a new name I have no idea.

 

It probably had something to do with the fact that Greenly was working for the Royal Aircraft Establishment designing gunsights for WW1 fighters under Henry Fowler (as in Midland Rly) during the latter stages of its existance. I suspect "Model Railway Press" may have been Greenly himself...

 

In the late 70s Model Railways was published by MAP - Model and Allied Publications - which I think also published Model Engineer. Whether this was a later name for Perceval Marshall Ltd I don't know - perhaps someone can confrim. John Ahern's books seem to have followed the same route from Percival Marshall &Co as publisher in the 1940s to MAP/Argus Books in the 70s

[stuarttrains]

In case its of interest found this website the other day, with the covers of most mags described here

http://www.payhost.net/modelling/acatalog/Model_Railway.html

 

Stuart

[Guest Natalie Graham]

In the late 70s Model Railways was published by MAP - Model and Allied Publications - which I think also published Model Engineer. Whether this was a later name for Perceval Marshall Ltd I don't know - perhaps someone can confrim. John Ahern's books seem to have followed the same route from Percival Marshall &Co as publisher in the 1940s to MAP/Argus Books in the 70s

 

I just looked at my own copies and MRN was published by MAP in 1968 but was still Perceval Marshal in 1962. I don't seem to have any from the intervening years to see when the change took place. I just found this which details the history of MAP and says they did take over Perceval Marshall.

[dibber25]

I don't think Ian Allen ever owned Model Railway News. It was the main rival of their Model Railway Constructor

Keith

 

No, IA never owned Model Railway News. During my time at Model Railway Constructor, Model Railways (as MRN had become) was edited by Dave Lowery. Small world isn't it. Mel - I seem to recall that MRC's circulation had dropped to around 20k by the time it closed in mid-1987 - a steady decline from over 40,000 in the 1960s. However, IA Editors in those days were 'mushrooms' (kept in the dark and fed BS) so it was pretty difficult to find out how well (or not) your magazine was doing. In the end it was really the fact that they wanted me to do other things which led to MRC closing.

I find it sad that IA is no longer in the magazine business. As a young railway enthusiast, the Abcs, Trains Illustrated, and MRC were the things I lived for, and IA was certainly one of my heroes. When I interviewed for the job in 1963 (at age 16) with Geoff Kichenside, Mr. Allan himself came in to the interview. I was amazed that I'd actually met him!!

CHRIS LEIGH

[edcayton]

What was the mag that Cyril Freezer went to after the Toddler?

 

Ed

[The Stationmaster]

No, IA never owned Model Railway News. During my time at Model Railway Constructor, Model Railways (as MRN had become) was edited by Dave Lowery. Small world isn't it. Mel - I seem to recall that MRC's circulation had dropped to around 20k by the time it closed in mid-1987 - a steady decline from over 40,000 in the 1960s. However, IA Editors in those days were 'mushrooms' (kept in the dark and fed BS) so it was pretty difficult to find out how well (or not) your magazine was doing. In the end it was really the fact that they wanted me to do other things which led to MRC closing.

I find it sad that IA is no longer in the magazine business. As a young railway enthusiast, the Abcs, Trains Illustrated, and MRC were the things I lived for, and IA was certainly one of my heroes. When I interviewed for the job in 1963 (at age 16) with Geoff Kichenside, Mr. Allan himself came in to the interview. I was amazed that I'd actually met him!!

CHRIS LEIGH

Chris I think you speak for many of us in your memories of the ABCs, TI and MRC - I can just imagine how you may have felt getting to actually meet IA. And then the job you had for the company, wow I would sometimes think as I plodded my way through yet another miserable wet marshalling yard, but that's the way life goes for us - each to his own.

[David Bigcheeseplant]

There was also a mag called Model Loco (I think) that ran for only a few issues, no idea who who was involved.

 

Maybe we could compile the list with Mag names, editors and publishers through the years. It seems with the birth and death there have always been around 3-4 mags at any one time.

 

David

[Krusty]

What was the mag that Cyril Freezer went to after the Toddler?

 

Model Railways. He started with the May 1978 issue.

 

Model Railway Constructor started as a private venture by EF Carter in the mid 1930s. When it got too much for him he sold out to a welthy modeller and the magazine seems to have remained privately owned into the mid 1950s. When Ian Allen took over I don't know - probably late 50s

 

I acquired a couple of 1947 issues (they contained LNWR loco plans, you know), which are Volume 14 (back numbers to 1936 were still available). According to the small print it was then "Published by Horace Marshall & Son, Ltd., Temple House, Tallis Street, London, E.C.4, for the proprietors". The editorial address was in Farnham, Surrey. ISTR the editor at this stage was a RJ Raymond. Alex Bowie was editor for a period during the 1950s, prior to the sale to Ian Allan.

[The Stationmaster]

There was also a mag called Model Loco (I think) that ran for only a few issues, no idea who who was involved.

 

Maybe we could compile the list with Mag names, editors and publishers through the years. It seems with the birth and death there have always been around 3-4 mags at any one time.

 

David

I only got rid of my copies of 'Model Loco' last year -I had every single issue but I seem to recollect that it didn't make it to double figures.

[Arthur]

There was also a mag called Model Loco (I think) that ran for only a few issues, no idea who who was involved.

 

Maybe we could compile the list with Mag names, editors and publishers through the years. It seems with the birth and death there have always been around 3-4 mags at any one time.

 

David

 

'Loco Modeller' I think, blue cover, ran for about six issues. Seemed to be almost a one man enterprise (John? Somebody). He published it and wrote most of the articles. I've got a full set, I'll dig them out and check the details.

 

[stewartingram]

Model Railways. He started with the May 1978 issue.

 

 

 

I acquired a couple of 1947 issues (they contained LNWR loco plans, you know), which are Volume 14 (back numbers to 1936 were still available). According to the small print it was then "Published by Horace Marshall & Son, Ltd., Temple House, Tallis Street, London, E.C.4, for the proprietors". The editorial address was in Farnham, Surrey. ISTR the editor at this stage was a RJ Raymond. Alex Bowie was editor for a period during the 1950s, prior to the sale to Ian Allan.

 

Just to widen the net a bit - is that the Alex Bowie of Airfix Mag fame?

 

Stewart

[Ravenser]

Model Railways. He started with the May 1978 issue.

 

 

 

I acquired a couple of 1947 issues (they contained LNWR loco plans, you know), which are Volume 14 (back numbers to 1936 were still available). According to the small print it was then "Published by Horace Marshall & Son, Ltd., Temple House, Tallis Street, London, E.C.4, for the proprietors". The editorial address was in Farnham, Surrey. ISTR the editor at this stage was a RJ Raymond. Alex Bowie was editor for a period during the 1950s, prior to the sale to Ian Allan.

 

RJ Raymond became editor before the war, when EF Carter who founded the magazine was bought out and seems still to have been editor in 1954 , according to a copy I have. The magazine was bought in the late 30s by a Mr FW Chubb, who is credited with some of the early photos in Peter Denny's book on Buckingham. At what point Railway World and MRC came under the same ownership , as it seems they were in the late 50s I don't know.

 

Model Railway News became Model Railways - Cyril Freezer moved from Railway Modeller to Model Railways, and ceased to be editor when it was relaunched as a down market mag in the mid 80s - the first of several relaunched/changes of direction that killed it. This may have been the point when it ceased to be owned by MAP

 

I think Arthur is pretty correct about Loco Modeller

[Arthur]

Whilst looking (unsuccessfully ) for my copies of Loco Modeller today, I came across another piece of the MORILL jigsaw.

As already covered by others, the last Jim Woods edited and T&S published issue I have is Vol. 4 No.6 March 1997. A gap of two months until it reappears with Vol. 4 No. 8, June 1997, different cover to MORILL but a similar layout inside, edited by Chris Ellis and published by Model Media Publications. It came with a free Fox transfer, enough for one B.R. 10t Insulated van in both 2mm and 4mm. I've three issues of that June, July and August (Vol. 4 No. 10).

 

The new bit of the jigsaw is this, something I'd completely forgotten about;

 

 

Edited by Jim Woods and published by Vancouver Print Ltd. It was intended to be bi-monthly and I've got four issues up to April/May 1998. The covers have the same colour and layout as above and the content layout is very much in the MORILL mould. A fifth issue was promised for 29th May but I never saw one.

[Ravenser]

The MORILLS are within reach of the computer...

 

Jim Woods replaced Ian Rice as editor from Vol 2 - 12 (8/95)

 

Irwell Press' last issue was Vol 4 no 5 (1/97) , and subscribers were told of a change of ownership

 

Vol 4 Nos 6+ 7 were credited to T&S Press , and looked just like the Irwell issues. Jim Woods was still editor

 

Then there was sudden silence, until June , when Vol 4 No 8 appeared with a very different cover, printed on poorer quality paper and with Chris Elliss (sic) as editor , published by Model Media Publications. This was followed by No 8 in July , with a similar cast

 

In August, it appeared with a slightly different cover, a series of Editorial Contributors, and an apologetic Publishers Note : "due mainly to the inexperience of the new owner, a catalogue of errors ensued culminating in the absence of the magazine from the news stands during March & April.... two former contributers ... formed Model Media Publications in order to save the magazine from extinction."

 

The next issue was promised for Aug 28th - it never appeared. That was the end

 

 

In October that year there appeared Model Railway Review - the issue shown above, bi-monthly. It did indeed look very much like Son of MORILL and I took out a new subscription. After 4 excellent issues, the fifth never arrived.

[dibber25]

'Loco Modeller' I think, blue cover, ran for about six issues. Seemed to be almost a one man enterprise (John? Somebody). He published it and wrote most of the articles. I've got a full set, I'll dig them out and check the details.

 

John Paige was the Editor/publisher. He launched it because he didn't believe the rest of us did a good enough job of our loco reviews. I seem to recall that, in John's view, we hadn't been unkind enough about Hornby's 'Schools' (the tender-drive version, not the current one).

CHRIS LEIGH

[martin_wynne]

Going off-topic slightly, here's an amazing resource. Every issue of Meccano Magazine in PDF format:

 

http://www.meccanoindex.co.uk/MMpdfs1.php

 

All your favourite issues are there. You'll be back in short trousers for at least an hour.

 

Martin.

[robertcwp]

With RMWeb moving to Warner’s, I was thinking of other Railway titles that have changed ownership over their lifetime, I will list the ones that come to mind, maybe others can fill in some of the blanks.

 

Railway Modeller first at Ian Allen then to Peco

Hornby Magazine first at Ian Allen now?

Model Railway Constructor Ian Allen throughout ?

Modelling Railways Illustrated (Iain Rice) then ?

Model Rail Emap to Buluer.

British Railway Modelling Warner’s thoughout

MRJ Wild Swan throughout

Model Rail is Bauer Media not Buluer, as is Rail. Bauer bought the EMAP Consumer Magazines business a few years ago if I recall correctly.

[Butler Henderson]

John Paige was the Editor/publisher. He launched it because he didn't believe the rest of us did a good enough job of our loco reviews. I seem to recall that, in John's view, we hadn't been unkind enough about Hornby's 'Schools' (the tender-drive version, not the current one).

And he certainly made his views on the Schools known in the short life of the mag - suspect he may have imploded if it was still around when Hornby released the mid 80s Princess Royal, the one that used as many existing parts as possible to make something that was simply not right.

[Arthur]

John Paige was the Editor/publisher. He launched it because he didn't believe the rest of us did a good enough job of our loco reviews. I seem to recall that, in John's view, we hadn't been unkind enough about Hornby's 'Schools' (the tender-drive version, not the current one).

CHRIS LEIGH

 

Thanks for that Chris, makes the story all the more interesting. I would have thought it a rather expensive 'protest' from his point of view, it surely cannot have been profitable in it's short life?

 

I also recall that in one of the issues he reported having some of his models stolen at a show he'd attended.

[Electrostar]

For many years Rail and Model Rail were published by Emap from their Peterborough offices. A few years ago Emap split, selling its consumer magazines and radio divisions to German publisher H Bauer which set up a new company Bauer Media. 

The business to business and exhibitions divisions, publishers of magazines like Broadcast, remained as Emap, now part-owned by Guardian Media Group.

Considering Rail prides itself as an industry mag (in contrast to its days as Rail Enthusiast) I expected it to have been part of the b2b group. But no,  it moved over to Bauer Media with the likes of Heat, Closer, Zoo, FHM and Grazia - although these were based in the London office.

German-owned Bauer already operated a successful British magazine company called H Bauer. It publishes magazines like Bella, Take a Break and TV Choice. Each division has remained separate. H Bauer is based near Camden with Bauer Media spread between the West End and Peterborough. 

For some reason the Rail website includes a logo saying it's published by (and links to) H Bauer but it's not listed on that website. Instead it's actually listed as being part of Bauer Media.

Considering consumer rival IPC sold off its specialist mags like The Railway Magazine to concentrate on its TV, women's and men's lifestyle brands it makes me wonder if Rail, Model Rail and Steam

Railway might one day end up with a niche publisher too.

 

http://www.bauermedia.co.uk/Brands

 

http://www.bauer.co.uk/brands

[steve1]

Model Railways was edited by Roy Johnstone from No 10, Volume 9, October 1992 onwards until, at leat October 1993. I don't have any more copies after then so not sure when he left.

 

steve

[dibber25]

Thanks for that Chris, makes the story all the more interesting. I would have thought it a rather expensive 'protest' from his point of view, it surely cannot have been profitable in it's short life?

 

I also recall that in one of the issues he reported having some of his models stolen at a show he'd attended.

 

Yes, indeed. I seem to recall he gave the theft of his review models as the reason for closing the magazine.

CHRIS LEIGH